Finn Russell admits that Scotland cannot afford another collapse in the game of the game against a rampant team in France or a risk of paying the heaviest price.
The Gregor Townsend team was relentless during the first 50 minutes against Wales when they accumulated an advance of 35-8 after having run in five converted trials.
Wales, however, returned to the closing district, marking three other tests while Scotland has launched and failed to put another point on the table.
Townsend takes his party to Paris next weekend to face France which moved into pole position to win the six nations with a complete demolition work on Ireland.
And the co-captain Russell knows that Scotland will probably be strongly punished if they have another crisis in the Stade de France.
He said: “It’s great for us to have this quick start in the game, then finish with the bonus point victory. For us, it’s really nice.
Russell succeeded with his five attempts to convert against Wales
Although they were forced to work for this, the Scottish have kept the Doddie Weir Cup
“But I think that after 50 to 55 minutes, we have probably turned off a little. So, learning as a team, we have to eliminate this and make sure that we have ruthless 80 -minute performance.
“I think it’s probably the mental side of things. We must find this ruthless advantage of simply storing the teams. We scored four trials in the first half, then we only marked one test in the second period.
“I don’t really know what it is. We have an excellent mental skills coach here (Jess Thom), so I think that as a collective, we may discuss with it – or as leaders, we will discuss with it – and see what we can do differently, what we can do better and how we can try to solve this problem.
“It is also something that was similar to the game in England. We had a brilliant shiny half-time and perhaps not as good in the second half. I think we definitely have it in us. But to go winning in France, we need an 80 -minute performance.
“The next weekend is massive for us in terms of tournament but also as a team in terms where we are. This is one of the most difficult challenges to go to Paris and try to beat France that has just got rid of a massive victory.
Townsend also conceded that it was a mixed bag, Scotland unable to maintain their first half intensity.
Darcy Graham jumps to get on the match sheet with a test for Scotland, his 30th for his country
The head coach said: “It was a very good first half and not so good last quarter. Sometimes it happens when you have a big lead. We don’t like this because we haven’t played at the level – a very good level – of the first half throughout. Sometimes credit goes to opposition. They had more possession in this second half. It was a disappointing way to finish by conceding a test.
Russell was back to his best against Wales before leaving with Cramp, having five conversion kicks after missing the three against England the last time.
He smiled: “I think I have my boots on the right feet today! No, it was good. I think I did a lot of work this week and that I just put myself in the groove, which was in fact.
“As a botter, it can be quite difficult when you don’t hit well and try to solve problems with each kick rather than just being in this groove and simply trusting it. But it is difficult to have kicked today after not having kicked in the match in England, which could have changed it.