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Edinburgh - Scotland coach Andy Robinson believes the secret to peaking at the Rugby World Cup lies in training more often but playing fewer games.
Robinson’s team beat fellow Six Nations side Ireland 10-6 at Murrayfield on Saturday, but lacked the cohesion to finish off several try-scoring opportunities during the game.
Scotland have only one more match (against Italy on August 20) to reach match fitness before the World Cup starts in September, but Robinson believes that intense training sessions will ensure his team are well prepared.
"I've talked to the players about whether they have 50 minutes, one game or two games, but what is key for us is that we are able to peak when we play Romania or Georgia and that's where our focus is: to get a starting XV really able to deliver in those games,” Robinson told the Scotsman.
"I've taken the decision to play just two games and it means we will have training sessions after the second game, which will be a bit livelier and full-on for longer, but we're in control of that. I find in Test matches that you're out of control with some of the hits that are going in, so I'm happier with just the two games."
Robinson’s decision to play only two matches before the World Cup is in contrast to the other home unions, who will all play between three and four.
Ireland will play France twice and England once over the last three Saturday’s of August, while England and Wales will play each other again on August 13, after their match on Saturday ended with England winning 23-19. The Roses and Dragons will then finish off their World Cup preparation with games against Ireland and Argentina respectively.
Robinson added that the extra training time would also help his team improve their decision making before the World Cup.
"I need to have a good look at the game, but I want us to look at how we play tactically inside our half and from the ten-metre to the halfway line, because that is key to building pressure on the opposition,” said Robinson.
"It is an area we need to improve, using kicking and running options, but is one that we didn't really look at in pre-season. It has been about individual skills and coming together last week to put team elements together, in attack and defence, and now it's how we get the tactical elements of winning games, and we do have time to work on that and develop it."
Robinson’s team beat fellow Six Nations side Ireland 10-6 at Murrayfield on Saturday, but lacked the cohesion to finish off several try-scoring opportunities during the game.
Scotland have only one more match (against Italy on August 20) to reach match fitness before the World Cup starts in September, but Robinson believes that intense training sessions will ensure his team are well prepared.
"I've talked to the players about whether they have 50 minutes, one game or two games, but what is key for us is that we are able to peak when we play Romania or Georgia and that's where our focus is: to get a starting XV really able to deliver in those games,” Robinson told the Scotsman.
"I've taken the decision to play just two games and it means we will have training sessions after the second game, which will be a bit livelier and full-on for longer, but we're in control of that. I find in Test matches that you're out of control with some of the hits that are going in, so I'm happier with just the two games."
Robinson’s decision to play only two matches before the World Cup is in contrast to the other home unions, who will all play between three and four.
Ireland will play France twice and England once over the last three Saturday’s of August, while England and Wales will play each other again on August 13, after their match on Saturday ended with England winning 23-19. The Roses and Dragons will then finish off their World Cup preparation with games against Ireland and Argentina respectively.
Robinson added that the extra training time would also help his team improve their decision making before the World Cup.
"I need to have a good look at the game, but I want us to look at how we play tactically inside our half and from the ten-metre to the halfway line, because that is key to building pressure on the opposition,” said Robinson.
"It is an area we need to improve, using kicking and running options, but is one that we didn't really look at in pre-season. It has been about individual skills and coming together last week to put team elements together, in attack and defence, and now it's how we get the tactical elements of winning games, and we do have time to work on that and develop it."
