Six Nations 2015: Doddie Weir fears Wooden Spoon for Scotland

After losing to Italy, Scotland face two tough games to avoid finishing last, as they did in 2012

Former Lions lock Doddie Weir feels a lack of "clinical precision" means Scotland are facing the bleak prospect of last place in the Six Nations.

Italy's last-minute penalty try secured a 22-19 win against Vern Cotter's side.

"They've got a hard task ahead of them to not get the Wooden Spoon this year," Weir told BBC Radio Scotland.

"Missing touch five minutes from the end of the match - that's the kind of clinical thing that needs to be done in top-level rugby in order to win games."

Weir, capped 61 times between 1990 and 2000, was referring to Peter Horne's failed kick to touch which helped give the Italians the momentum in the closing stages.

But the former Newcastle Falcons player also identified Italy's opportunity to score their first try as a crucial point in the match.

"When the ball hit the post Scotland, should have been able to react," said Weir, who won the Five Nations Championship with Scotland in 1999.

"What I think is lacking is this clinical precision and reaction.

"I don't think we've got a major problem. It's more frustration rather than a major issue, because they've been very competitive in all their matches.

"They're playing attractive rugby and they've got a bit of discipline there so Vern Cotter's doing a good job. It's basically on results and that's what's been lacking - actually finishing and winning the game.

Doddie Weir fends off Wales' Neil Jenkins during the 1995 Five Nations Championship

Scotland forward Blair Cowan said Saturday's defeat at Murrayfield is a sideways step rather than a backwards one, and that they have the ability to turn their tournament around against England at Twickenham on 15 March.

Cowan also insisted that the current Scotland team is "not a Wooden Spoon side".

Weir added: "They've got England and Ireland to play. They're very strong sides and if they don't beat them, Blair Cowan might eat his words because Scotland will go on to get the Wooden Spoon.

"But Scotland generally raise their game for these two teams, so fingers crossed they can get this last part of the jigsaw up, this clinical precision and skill level.

"How good a season would that be if Scotland were able to turn it round in two weeks and have a victory over England? That would certainly make up for what's happened so far."