Saturday 15 November 2014 22:33, UK
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter insists his men will learn valuable lessons from their brave defeat to New Zealand.
The Dark Blues pushed the All Blacks close as they went in search of that elusive first ever win against the Kiwis but the visitors finally prevailed 24-16 at Murrayfield.
Just a week on from scoring five tries in a 41-31 success against Argentina, Cotter expects his side to get better and better for the experience of taking on genuine world greats like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
I feel for the players. We always knew this game was going to give us things and I think it gave us a lot of positives.
He said: "Nobody likes losing and these guys least of all. That is encouraging. Not liking losing is a quality.
"We got close but we didn't get there so we have to say we are disappointed. But when you look at the content of what the players did out there, it's hard for a coach to be unhappy when you see that effort, desire and determination.
"Our defence was excellent. Apart from a couple of plays, everybody put their hands up and really led the team.
"I feel for the players. We always knew this game was going to give us things and I think it gave us a lot of positives.
"The review after the Argentina game was really honest - the players really had a good look at themselves. This game gives us another chance to do that having taken on the world's best.
"There were a lot of really good things in the game but also a lot of things we need to improve. But that's the nature of this group - they want to improve. They are young and want to move forward."
The result could have been all so different had Greig Laidlaw not sent a penalty wide with 15 minutes left while his side trailed by a single point.
"It was a big chance but it just hung out to the right," admitted the skipper. "But we win together and we lose together. I will take the credit when I kick the winner but that one just got away in the end."
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen, who put out a youthful line-up featuring McCaw and Carter as the rare old heads, saw enough to suggest Scotland will soon pose problems for their Northern Hemisphere neighbours.
He said: "I think Scotland are a very good side on the way up. I really do mean that sincerely.
"There was a period in the game where they wanted to play in their 22 and maybe when they review the game they will say they should have kicked that, because we defended that really well and put them under pressure.
"But they are a bit like the All Blacks team (today). They are young and learning and will get a lot of this game - a lot of confidence for sure.
"I think by the time the Six Nations comes around they will be right in it."
