Thursday 9 February 2017 09:30, UK
While Scotland played some scintillating attacking rugby during Saturday’s Six Nations victory over Ireland, it was the resolve the team showed to overcome adversity late in the game that most pleased captain Greig Laidlaw.
The Scots held a commanding 21-8 lead at half-time at Murrayfield before Ireland battled back after the interval, with Iain Henderson crossing on 48 minutes and then Paddy Jackson scoring a converted try on 62 minutes to give Ireland a 22-21 lead.
It looked like a familiar story for the Scots, who had suffered two heart-breaking defeats to Australia in the past 18 months when they were unable to close out the match after leading late.
But it seems Vern Cotter's side have learned from those losses, and it was the home side rather than the Irish who found the will to win in the closing minutes as they pushed into the visitors' half and earned two penalties, both of which Laidlaw converted to seal a memorable 27-22 win.
Laidlaw said: "In the first half against Ireland we were really skilful and caused them a whole host of problems and managed to build a lead on the scoreboard which was hugely important.
"Where I feel the team has made massive strides is being able to dig ourselves out of a hole. After allowing Ireland to come back at us, we managed to get field positions and eventually see out the win, so it's pleasing to know we can perform in these situations.
"We understand how we can win games from being behind."
Scotland travel to Paris on Saturday looking to make it two Six Nations wins out of two, after managing to win two games in total in the Championship during the past two seasons.
France are another team that have struggled in the Six Nations in recent times, averaging just two wins a season over the last five years.
But they are showing signs of improvement under head coach Guy Noves, pushing New Zealand and England close in their past two matches, and Laidlaw is expecting a fierce test.
"We need everything we had from the Ireland game and take that forward into the French game," Laidlaw said.
"There are things we feel as though we can still improve on. In a tournament like the Six Nations there is no respite, we've beaten Ireland and enjoyed it, our feet are back on the ground now and we know what's required for the task ahead.
"France have improved massively under Guy Noves and they aren't far away from any team they are playing. They have some very dangerous strike runners throughout their team.
"They have become a really dangerous team and can cause anyone problems."
Scotland have not tasted victory in Paris in 18 years but Laidlaw feels if they can start fast and silence the home support, they will have a good chance of ending that losing streak.
"The start of the game is massively important when you travel away to France," he said. "The first thing you do in the game is psychologically just as important for them as it is for us.
"We need to stay in the game, play in the right areas and not muck about for the first 20 minutes then we'll put them under pressure and upset their crowd a little bit.
"The Stade de France is a great stadium, it's open and in terms of real noise you don't hear it as much as you do at other stadiums.
"Scotland haven't won in Paris since 1999, it was a long time ago and there's a reason for that, it's because France are a good side and it's a difficult place to go and win.
"We are under no illusions, we need to be on top of our game to get anything out of it."
