Scotland wing Max Evans has insisted there's no need for any sense of "panic" following a 6-13 loss to England in their Six Nations opener in Edinburgh at the weekend.

Saturday's Calcutta Cup defeat was the fourth successive international in which Scotland had failed to score a try and some all-too familiar failings were present when, despite repeated forays into the England 22, several good chances went begging.

Lock Richie Gray's charge downfield came to nothing after one of numerous knock-ons that stopped several promising moves in their tracks while flanker Ross Rennie botched a two-on-one by delaying a pass and so allowing England full-back Ben Foden to snuff out the threat.

Replacement back Greig Laidlaw went close in having a possible try disallowed by the television match official but that was as good as it got for Scotland.

And with England restricting Scotland to just two kickable penalties, in a match where seven visiting players ended up making their Test debuts and the Scots had more than double the number of their opponents' caps, this contest was proof that experience is no guarantee of composure.

It all left Scotland head coach Andy Robinson, the former England flanker and coach, and backs chief Gregor Townsend, facing some awkward questions ahead of next weekend's trip to Wales, who started the Six Nations with a thrilling 23-21 win away to Ireland on Sunday.

"There's by no means any need to panic," Evans said.

"It's not that we can't score tries and break teams down. If you look at Ross Rennie's pass to Mike (Blair), an inch earlier and Mike's got it and probably going under the posts.

"It's the very small inches. That's all it is to me. It's nothing to do with confidence," said Evans after a Calcutta Cup clash where the only try of the match was scored by England's Charlie Hodgson after he charged down opposing fly-half Dan Parks's intended clearance kick.

However, Evans said Scotland were putting pressure on themselves by constantly trying to play an up-tempo game.

"What we're trying to do is play this quick game where we get quick ball, put pressure on and run other teams off their feet

"There are times when we're doing that and we just run out of numbers -- we can't play at that speed all the time.

"It's about doing that for periods, noticing that we're low on numbers, slowing it down and doing a few phases to build it back up and going again."

Next weekend's clash is set to see Evans return to the Millennium Stadium for the first time since brother Thom's rugby career was ended there by a neck injury suffered on international duty against Wales two years ago.

Evans, asked about the prospect of appearing at the Millennium again, said: "I won't know until I'm there, but it's pretty emotional.

"My focus will be on my performance and the game itself and something like that won't really bother me, I hope."

Two years ago, Scotland were 10 points in front against Wales but, after injuries to Thom Evans and Chris Paterson, lost to a late Shane Williams try.

Max Evans, who plays for French club Castres, said the defeat by England had been a blow to morale but insisted a week was long enough for the squad to turn things around.

"Confidence is shattered a little bit, but I know we were on the verge of beating them (Wales) and beating them fairly comfortably last time.

"I've got no doubt we can beat Wales at all. It's just about getting it right on the day."

AFP