Scotland coach Andy Robinson was 'delighted' at how his players carved out their victory over Georgia on Wednesday.
Sometimes you've got to win ugly says Scotland boss
Scotland coach Andy Robinson was 'delighted' at how his players carved out their victory over Georgia in Invercargill on Wednesday.
Dan Parks scored all of his side's points in a battling 15-6 win, during which Scotland's forwards comfortably nullified the threat from a much-hyped Georgian pack.
Dan Parks booted a drop goal plus four penalties from seven attempts, while his Georgian counterpart Merab Kvirikashvili replied with two penalties.
Although by no means pretty, the victory kept alive Scotland's hopes of maintaining their record of making it through to the knockout stage of every World Cup.
And with at least third place guaranteed in Pool B, it had the added bonus of guaranteeing qualification for the 2015 World Cup in England.
"Some days you've got to play this way - you've got to win ugly.
Frustrated
"The key for us was to win the game. I was delighted with the way the players played, right across the board.
"I set the target when we discussed the first phase of our campaign that when we left Invercargill we wanted nine points. We've achieved that and the guys stuck to a very good plan today.
"I thought the front five were outstanding in the way they took on the renowned Georgian pack.
"Everybody wrote about - and rightly so - the strength of the Georgian scrummaging, but I was delighted with the way we scrummaged today.
"We stopped Georgia mauling today as well which was pleasing - traits that will be important when we go to play Argentina and England."
Georgia head coach Richie Dixon said he had been frustrated by the penalties conceded but put them down to over-enthusiasm and opening match nerves.
Crucial times
The former Scotland coach admitted his side would have to be more disciplined for their next match when they face England in Dunedin on Sunday.
"We knew that Scotland would come at us," he stated. "I felt that our defence was holding up - they were making half-breaks but we were still knocking them over.
"The most disappointing thing for me was we didn't really get our attacking play developed mainly though our own efforts - because of giving away penalties at crucial times.
"(There was) a bit of first-match syndrome. I think some of the penalties were over-enthusiasm rather than deliberate.
"Now we've got the first game under our belt we can have a really good look at ourselves. We were our own worst enemies, particularly in attacking plays.
"We bus ourselves up to Dunedin and we've got to gather ourselves again for another big effort very soon against England."
