“For too long we were letting games slip, even if we were still winning them. I look at two Wales games in the last two Six Nations where they’ve come really close when we were in a position to put it away.
“The Italy game away [in 2024] when we lost. And so I think it had maybe gone not unnoticed, but sort of unchecked. And I think the Argentina one is obviously the really obvious one, 21 points up, to let that slip.
“There’s been really good conversations, a lot of learnings from that around processes in the game, what our mindset is with momentum swings.
“I feel really positive coming in and seeing the change in everyone and sort of buying into the plan. And I think we obviously want to see a major improvement in that area.”
Like a trademark Jones break, Scotland players have been slipping and sidestepping away from any questions around targets for this Six Nations.
After several underwhelming campaigns these past few years, and coming off a deeply disappointing autumn series, they are aware any bold talk about winning the championship will likely be met with a collective groan from Scotland supporters.
The focus is entirely on Italy in round one, and considering their last visit to Rome ended in defeat after one of those signature Scotland collapses, it is a sound strategy.
“We really have to believe, but we have to take it one game at a time,” said Jones.
“If we start looking ahead and thinking what we’ll do when we get there to that last game, that’s doing no-one any good. So really, it’s Italy. It’s one at a time.
“So, all we’re focusing on is Italy and how to beat Italy whilst sorting our plan and believing in ourselves and believing what we can do. But it’s just that game.
“I don’t think we can ever look ahead. Maybe in the past we’ve been caught up in that, of thinking what we’ll do when it gets to that round and games pass you by and then suddenly your championship is over.”
