Over the festive period and into a big game against Doncaster, we caught up with Head Coach Joe Gray to get his thoughts on where this game will be won and lost as well as how the side have been growing these past few weeks.

“There were lots of positives from last weekend for sure. We score some awesome tries and put our gameplan out on the field. What’s most pleasing is that we asked the squad to work exceptionally hard for each other, graft for one another and put themselves in dark places, you saw that in spades at the weekend.

“Our DNA as Scottish is to play open, expansive and exciting rugby and you saw that at times on the weekend. We fell just short and there are things to work on but we aren’t far away from where we need to be.”

The stats back up the way London Scottish played the game, leading the league in line breaks and offloads. Hayden Hyde beat 10 defenders on his own. Whilst in the work rate department Jack Ingall topped the tackling stats with 14 chops. Hayden Hyde made the same number of carries and Jack Ingall also hit 37 rucks across eighty minutes.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s game Joe noted that difference between the two side’s prep.

“We’re a part time side so with Christmas being this week and players going back to see family we will train once a week and have an extended prep day on Saturday. Doncaster, however, will have a full week of preparation as a full time side, they’ll have previewed us and know what’s coming.

However, that’s no excuse, we are going to have to work hard at the weekend and be physical. If we do that we can have success again against one of the best sides in the league. Our set-piece will have to function well and if that happens we can unleash our exciting players in the wide channels.”