Frank Hadden has revealed there was a forthright exchange between players and coaches in the wake of Scotland's agonising defeat by South Africa.
Hadden watched his men blow a golden opportunity to beat the world champions on Saturday when they roared to a 10-0 half-time lead only to lose 14-10 at Murrayfield.
The result could prove extremely costly, with Scotland facing a nightmare draw for the next World Cup if Ireland beats Argentina this weekend.
Scotland plays Canada in a match it must win to stand any chance of preserving its status as second seeds for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand, but the Springboks defeat means their fate is out of its hands.
Hadden, who on Tuesday made four changes to his side for Saturday's game at Pittodrie, said: "We've put last weekend to bed with a very exhaustive debrief."
"There was some very honest talking. Of course, there were a lot of positives to be taken from last weekend, but there were aspects of the game we weren't happy with and we know we're going to have to improve on if we're going to be the team we think we can be."
"We've freshened up the side a little bit. We've kept the front five and midfield very much intact and the changes are in the back row and the back three."
Three of those changes were brought about by injury, with Hadden electing not to delay naming his side despite admitting fullback Chris Paterson, wing Thom Evans and flanker Jason White might have recovered in time.
The trio has been replaced by wings Simon Webster and Nikki Walker and blindside Alasdair Strokosch, while Rory Lamont switches to fullback.
After missing the Springboks game and the defeat by New Zealand the previous Saturday, No.8 Simon Taylor returns to depose Allister Hogg, who drops out altogether.
"Simon Taylor, having been selected for New Zealand, was always going to come back in if he recovered in time, and he has done so," said Hadden, who revealed White had left the squad as his wife is due to give birth on Wednesday.
Max Evans, who starred alongside Webster and Walker in Scotland A's thrashing of Georgia on Friday night, is included in the senior 22 for the first time after being named on the bench.
"Al Strokosch gets an opportunity to prove the selectors wrong in the first place and it's a reward, I guess, for Nikki Walker, Simon Webster and Max Evans for their displays on Friday night for the A team," said Hadden.
Of Strokosch, he added: "I don't know if he's an angry man but he's a pretty desperate man who's been very unlucky to be left out in the first place and we're expecting a big performance from him on Saturday."
Scotland was ultimately made to pay for missed penalties against South Africa, with four squandered by Phil Godman and Dan Parks after the metronomic Paterson left the field with a facial injury.
Hadden defended the records of his understudies and backed Godman to make amends.
"We have the best goalkicker in the world in Chris Paterson. So, of course, everybody else doesn't look so good by comparison," he said.
"It's a bit of added pressure for Phil but we think he's capable of dealing with that. We see it as a real opportunity for him."
Scotland will be expected to beat Canada, although the