But Davies is determined to focus on the positives, particularly on the injury front where Wales hope to have key backs Shane Williams, Mark Jones and Tom Shanklin involved at Murrayfield.

“We have lost this battle but we haven’t lost the war. This is a very open Six Nations,” he said.

“We created a lot of good chances against Ireland and the tries will come.

“We scored 16 in the autumn and they will come, particularly if we carry on playing the way we do. We have some lethal finishers coming back in for the game.

“Scotland will be tough. They will be fired up at home but we are prepared for that. We are fully aware of what they will offer and it is about adding to our gameplan. We will be a lot more streetwise heading into the game.”

Wales’ team announcement has been put back by 24 hours to tomorrow lunchtime in order to give Williams, Jones, Shanklin and Hal Luscombe, who went for a knee scan last night, every chance to prove their fitness.

Hopes are high in the Wales camp and Davies said: “We have a number of situations whereby players may be available for selection.

“We’re thinking mainly of Shane Williams, Mark Jones and Tom Shanklin. All three may be available for selection, but we’ll know more in the next couple of days.”

The need to become more “streetwise” was a constant theme after Sunday’s defeat, in which an inexperienced Wales side enjoyed enough possession to have hurt Ireland but failed to make their dominance count.

Flanker Martyn Williams admitted: “We are killing ourselves by making errors and we really need to be more streetwise at times.

“It’s not from a lack self-belief, it’s just sometimes the top three inches at international level which can make all the difference.

“But we have to go to Scotland and be positive. After a defeat all you want to do is get playing again.

“But we know they will be hurting having lost against England and it’s always a difficult place to go and get a win.”