Ever-confident Scotland wing Sean Lamont thinks the currently coach-less national team can still win the Six Nations, writes Steve Scott.
Cut out the “rollercoaster ride of performances” and Scotland could spring a surprise for the next coach, who remains likely to be Australian Scott Johnson in an interim role until the completion of the championship, only six weeks away.
“For Scotland to win it we need to be clinical in every game and flawless,” said Lamont. “But we can do it, we’ve shown against the big teams before, it’s just about getting the collective absolutely spot on every game and the roller-coaster ride of performances needs to go.
“We’ve got England first up, who will be confident from their great win against New Zealand.
“A change of coach is always an uncertain time, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Look at England themselves, (Stuart) Lancaster came in and turned it around. It can be done.”
Lamont said the players were to blame for the humiliating loss to Tonga, not departed head coach Andy Robinson.
“It wasn’t a case of Andy losing the dressing room,” he insisted. “It was a coach-killing performance.
“We crossed the line three times and didn’t get a score, which is criminal, really.”
Lampont was speaking as Scottish Rugby unveiled Caledonia Best as its official beer in a three-year sponsorship deal that covers all aspects of the national gamne, from national team games to the Edinburgh and Glasgow pro teams and the Scottish leg of the IRB World Series Sevens.