Webster wants more ball security
Scotland winger lauds South African scrapping
Scotland international Simon Webster has said that safer ball at the breakdown is the key to progress in the wake of the 36-16 defeat in Durban last Saturday.
The 25-year-old winger came on as a substitute and scored the Scots' only try in the match, and is now hoping for a place in the starting XV for the second Test in Port Elizabeth this weekend.
Webster insists Scotland can take heart from a gritty second-half display against Jake White's team.
"The way they played made it really hard for us at the breakdown," he said
"It became a really messy affair and, even when we had the ball going forward and could get across the gain line, the rucks turned into a real scramble.
"That sort of play does not help us. We did not keep hold of the ball and, even when we did, it only took a couple of phases for them to turn it into really scrappy ball for us.
"It was unfortunate we did not get more ball to throw around.
"When you are playing against a team with that much ball and that much territory, it is hard to make an impact on the scoreboard.
"The fact we kept hold of the ball more and got more territory in the second half is encouraging and will take them forward.
"There are certainly some things in the second half we can take out of the game."
But Scotland head coach Frank Hadden is facing a minor injury crisis ahead of the game at the EPRFU Stadium on Saturday.
Winger Sean Lamont (knee), full-back Hugo Southwell (shoulder), flanker Donnie Macfadyen (chest) and captain Jason White (knee) are all carrying injuries, forcing the team to cancel a training session yesterday as the casualty list threatened to bite.
But the Scotland boss is refusing to panic and has kept number eight John Beattie with the squad rather than releasing him for the Under-21 World Championships in France.
"U21 manager John Jeffrey is comfortable with that and understands how important the situation is for us," said Hadden.
"The bonus is what a good development opportunity it is for John when you consider he is a player who may well have a shot at the World Cup next year.
"This is a good place for him to be and I think everybody is aware of the bigger picture."
