Scotland head coach Andy Robinson is determined to concentrate on the present ahead of the team's clash with Australia.
Scotland coach has no time for talk of making history
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson is determined to concentrate on the present ahead of the team's clash with Australia at Murrayfield.
If Scotland win the showdown it will mark their first defeat of the Wallabies in 27 years, ending a sequence of 16 consecutive losses, but former England boss Robinson refuses to speculate on the consequences of a victory.
"It's about the first kick-off and how we perform from there," said Robinson.
"You prepare a team that's ready to go and it's about what happens in the 80 minutes that's key."
Robinson has demanded a 15% improvement in all areas from his first match in charge against Fiji and although his squad have responded well to the challenge in training, he knows it is what happens on the field that ultimately counts.
"The players are well-prepared, they've shown a great attitude," he said.
"We respect the way Australia play but we've got to get stuck into them and perform at our very best."
Opportunities
Robinson insists that his team must snatch point-scoring opportunities whenever they occur to be in with a chance of success.
"Within all games, you want speed of ball, you want to go forward, you've got to look after the ball, but you've got to look at different ways of scoring points," he added.
"That's going to be our challenge this weekend, how we're going to open up the Australian defence."
The squad Australia have named features just one change from the line-up that drew with Ireland 20-20, ending their hopes of completing a Grand Slam tour.
"They're a quality team and they have quality players throughout their squad, so it wouldn't matter who they picked," said Robinson.
"However, the main thing is the team performs and each individual's got to be able to perform for the team."
Scotland have lost co-captain Mike Blair to an ankle injury, with scrum-half Rory Lawson promoted to the bench in his place, but Robinson has played down Blair's absence from the team.
"You just deal with it; that's part of the sport," he added. "He's made good improvements these last couple of days but it wasn't right today.
"There's always plans in place; Rory's been playing really well with Gloucester."
Robinson must also rethink his leadership model in Blair's absence, with Alasdair Strokosch favourite to take the armband in the event of Cusiter's substitution.
"The final decision for that will be made if that substitution takes place," he added. "I've got a number of leaders."
