Humble Scotland star Jonny Gray does not want personal plaudits for his performances, insisting they win and lose as a team.

Gray was a force in the engine room again as Scotland fell to an agonising 23-22 defeat to Australia - leading the team with 24 tackles and 13 ball carries.

The second row's consistent excellence for club and country has him widely tipped to be part of the British and Irish Lions party to tour New Zealand next year.

But the Glasgow Warriors co-captain insisted the team ethos nurtured by Vern Cotter made the huge efforts of the squad more frustrating in the face of the autumn test loss.

Gray, who also crashed over the whitewash for Scotland's third try at the weekend, said: "I don't look at the numbers. The defence all works for each other.

"Whoever is there will make the tackle. If someone misses the tackle the next person is there to clear up.

"We play for each other, we play with a lot of heart and it is a team effort.

"Personally, I think I have a lot of improvements to make. There are a few things I'm unhappy with.

"It is something we work on, it is a culture here. Whenever someone makes a mistake it is on the team.

"Likewise when someone does well it is because the team has done well for them.

"It is a great culture and I think that is what makes it so hard to lose."

A regular for Glasgow and a full Scotland international before he was out of his teens, the 6ft 6in lock already has 26 caps to his name.

A member of the national team's leadership group, Gray's teammates see him as a leader on the field despite his tender years. Only Zander Fagerson (20) and Magnus Bradbury (21) are younger in Cotter's group.

Yet Gray's desire for self-improvement burns brightly despite his significant achievements in rugby already.

He said: "I have coaches and players around me to help show me ways to get better.

"I'm very lucky to have that culture at Scotland and Glasgow.

"To be in the Scotland shirt is very special and to play against some these guys you come up against - like at the weekend to play against these two second rows [Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman] plus [Will] Skelton and [Rob] Simmons on the bench - it is just a great opportunity to test yourself.

"I watch across world rugby and to compare myself to these guys. It makes me think I have a lot to improve and a long way to go to get to their level.

"I'm lucky to have players who push me - we are always pushing each other on here.

"There are a lot of things for me to work on."