Huw Jones underlined the need for Scotland to find a clinical edge when they face Ireland in a do-or-die Rugby World Cup tussle in Paris.
The Scots last won the fixture in 2017 and have since suffered eight consecutive defeats.
As for Ireland, a 16-game winning run propelled them into the world No. 1 spot and to the brink of the knockout stages.
"Whenever we look back at those games, there’s so many opportunities we haven’t taken,” Jones said.
“You can’t ever have a perfect game but something we’ve been striving for is being more consistent and putting together an 80-minute performance, staying alive in every moment and really staying focused.
"There have been a few games where just a five- or 10-minute loss of focus has cost us the game. We know we can’t have that, but if we also know that if we have focus for 80 minutes, stay in every second of it and take our chances when they arise, that we can beat top teams.
“We know we have the quality, we know we have the game plan. We can win, we just have to go out and do it.”
Jones is one of just four starters from the 2017 victory who will line up in the starting XV again this evening, along with Finn Russell, Zander Fagerson and Richie Gray.
But the centre believes there are lessons to be learned from the 27-22 victory six years ago.
“That is one of those games where we put together a performance,” said the 29-year-old.
“What sticks out is we took our chances in a close game when they were available and finished up on the right side of the scoreline.
“That is clearly what we need to do and what we have done over the past few years when we have had good wins against top opposition. You just have to be clinical.”
