Head coach Brian Easson says Scotland failed to do themselves justice with a “really disappointing performance” in their Women’s Six Nations defeat to Italy.
The Scots were outplayed by an impressive Azzurri side who looked sharper throughout and outscored their hosts by five tries to three in Edinburgh.
The defeat puts paid to Scotland’s pre-tournament target of three home wins and Easson admits his side’s largely lacklustre display took him by surprise.
“I didn’t see it coming at all,” Easson told BBC Scotland. “We didn’t play well. I was really disappointed.
“I thought we got dominated at contact time. We didn’t manage the game as well as we’d hoped.
“They were very short periods of time that we kept ball, short periods of time where we defended and had real urgency as well.
“So that was a really disappointing performance and that’s just not what Scotland Women are all about.
“It was just one of those performances that nothing clicked at all.
“That’s not what we expect, not the standards that we expect of this team. It’s not the standards that they would expect for themselves either and it’s just one of those ones we’re going to have to look at closely, understand why and move on.”
Scotland face defending champions England in Leicester next weekend, with the Red Roses having claimed maximum points from their three matches so far as they hunt another title.
“It’s always going to have to be a big reaction to play against England,” Easson said.
“To play against England at Welford Road, it’s going to be difficult for any side.
“They’re the best team in the world. You saw what they did against a tough Ireland. So, we’re going to have to turn around quite quickly, a six-day turnaround as well.
“We’re going to have to brush ourselves down, look at that and really have a big step up in performance next week.”
