Scotland’s players need to be brutally honest about where they are going wrong if they want to beat the best nations in the world, according to lock Jim Hamilton.
The giant Montpellier second-rower celebrated his 50th cap for the Dark Blues as they took on Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday.
But while it was a brave display against the Wallabies, Hamilton insists there is no point hiding from the errors which cost them the 21-15 defeat in the capital.
He said: “If we are taking the positives out of it, we were significantly better than we were last week against South Africa.
“But we still struggled at those crucial times when we needed to be clinical. The chances we got, we didn’t take.
“If you look at these huge southern hemisphere nations, if they get one opportunity they make it count by scoring.
“We are obviously not quite at their level, but we can be pleased with the resolve we showed in some parts against Australia.
“We were in a good place going into half-time but the disappointing thing was we allowed them to get a second try just after the restart.
“But we can’t just talk about positives. We have to be harsh in our assessment of ourselves.
“We need to be brutally honest with each other but we have got the coaches who will do that.
“It’s not about blowing smoke into the team and telling us all how great we are. Frankly, if you don’t win then it really doesn’t matter how well you have played.”
Scott Johnson’s Scots side competed ably for much of the game, with Greig Laidlaw kicking 15 points to at least keep their score tally ticking over after the previous week’s 28-0 blank against the Springboks.
But due to a lack of ingenuity and imagination at crucial moments, Scotland just could not breach the try line.
Australia, on the other hand, produced two incisive moves to register tries by Israel Falou and Chris Feauai-Sautia either side of half-time.
On a more positive note, Johnson has been able to field 20 players in the eight forward positions across the three November Tests with Japan, South Africa and the Wallabies as he continues his mission to increase Scotland’s reserves of experience at international level.
Hamilton insists that will only help the team close the gap on the big guns of the world game, even if it may limit his chances to build on his 50th cap.
“We need to have guys who are experienced at international level,” said the 31-year-old. “You need to have tasted those high-pressure games if you are to cope at this level but we have that now.
“I’ve just won my 50th cap but it will be extremely difficult for me to now keep hold of my place with the new players coming in. I’m not going to keep my place forever, that’s for sure.
“But I’m desperate to play for this team and I will need to do my best for Scotland if I’m to do so. I’m well aware of the competition but that’s great for Scottish Rugby, the team and me as well.”