Double try-scorer John Barclay says Scotland will be in trouble against Argentina unless they improve on their performance against Japan Select.

The flanker contributed 10 of the points as the Scots struggled to a 24-5 win over Japan's second string in their non-cap friendly at Murrayfield.

"When we got the ball, we gave it away too cheaply," he told BBC Scotland.

"And, against a side like Argentina in two weeks' time, if we do that, we will be in a lot of bother."

Alex Grove and Simon Danielli grabbed the other tries before Youngdae Kim's late reply for a Japan side that had threatened to score all evening.

"It is good to get a hit-out," said Barclay, who will hope to be in the starting line-up for the tests in Argentina on 12 and 19 July.

It also highlighted there is a lot of work for us to do Scotland coach Andy Robinson

"Nobody picked up any injuries, but it was good to get the bumps and bruises, because we have not played for a few weeks.

"It was better to get that out today than it would be in the first test."

There were disgruntled noises from the Murrayfield crowd at half-time as Scotland laboured to a 7-0 lead against the touring side that had previously defeated Scottish champions Currie.

"It was scrappy, but we came up against a really tenacious and aggressive Japanese team," said Barclay.

"At the break down, they were more aggressive than us and it made life really difficult for us.

"We got lessons learned as we know it is going to be like that in Argentina.

"So, a few issues to be looked at and resolved, but nothing that can't be fixed."

Robinson was visibly agitated while watching from the sidelines but later played down the match as a training exercise designed to prepare for the Argentine challenge.

"There were some good parts - the first 10 minutes, there was good shape and good pace on to the ball," he said.

"It also highlighted there is a lot of work for us to do. The guys have trained pretty well over the last three days and it has been hard and we trained through this game.

"And the idea of that was for us to be able to work on some of our systems and the framework of how we are trying to play, particularly outside the second receiver, which is an area we want to attack against Argentina."

It was a strong Scottish line-up that faced the Japanese, but Chris Cusiter and Alan McDonald missed the game through injury, Richie Gray called off through illness, while Gloucester's Rory Lawson, Alasdair Dickinson, Al Strokosch and Scott Lawson were unavailable for selection.

However, all are expected to travel to Argentina and Robinson was happy that there were no serious injuries picked up against the lively Japanese.

"What they were good at was they were able to knock you over," he said. "They tackled well and we did go to ground too easily and, with that, we were then isolated and the support did not get with us.

"There are a few bumps and bruises, but that was the idea of the game as well. We wanted the guys to be tested in defence. You can only do so much when you are training."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version