Scotland unprepared for World Cup, says coach Vern Cotter

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter says his players are "not ready" to play at the 2015 World Cup, at the moment.

However, the New Zealander insists with 12 months of hard graft, they can be.

"We've got a lot of work to do on all aspects; technical, tactical, physical," Cotter told BBC Scotland.

"We'll be using the autumn Tests as a measuring stick and we'll get an idea of where we're at. We're not going to try and fool ourselves, we'll assess where we're at and try and get better."

The three November internationals are against Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga.

The matches not only give Scotland players an ideal opportunity to demonstrate to Cotter they are worth a place in the Six Nations squad, but also a provide an early chance to indicate they could be cut out for the challenge the 2015 World Cup presents.

Scottish Rugby's chief executive Mark Dodson has already claimed the national side are capable of winning the tournament, which is being held in England next September.

Cotter, who became Scotland head coach in June after leaving French Top 14 side Clermont, insists those ambitious aims have not heaped any additional pressure on him.

"I think it's great," said the 52-year-old. "I reckon it's positive - that's something we need to have - a positive and collective energy within Scotland to get us where we want to be, and that's qualifying for a play-off place in the World Cup.

"We've got to be all together in this and really try and get past these hurdles and embrace the challenges. We've got to keep working, keep getting smarter and keep getting better."

Coming up before the World Cup is the 2015 Six Nations in February, and while Cotter isn't getting ahead of himself, he would "love" to lead Scotland to winning it, or at least beating their best ever placing.

Scotland won the final Five Nations in 1999, but in 15 seasons of the Six Nations, have never finished higher than third.

Cotter added: "We'll have to get through the autumn Tests first, we're not going to get too far in front of ourselves.

"But it's a competition and we'll enter that competition to try and do as best as possible."