Scots fear they haven't got a prayer

Matt Williams is sounding more like a vicar than a rugby coach as he prepares for the RBS Six Nations championships.

Scotland face Wales and England in the space of a week and that tough schedule may be the reason for their coach's announcement that "like St John's gospel there are no miracles, just signs".

Williams, an Australian, has taken over from Ian McGeechan as coach and appears to be adopting a "we are not very good so don't expect much" attitude. He said: "We have a hard 18 months ahead. The realities are that we've slipped to ninth in the world, and we've lost five backs from our last Test.

"We're substantially behind other countries. We have to play against the world champions, as well as France, Ireland, and Wales who all put in powerful performances in the World Cup."

The Scotland squad trained yesterday without No8 Simon Taylor, who has had a recurrence of an ankle injury, but he should be fit for the opening match away to Wales on 14 February.