Scots strive to graduate after tough lessons

IF BELIEF was the watchword when Frank Hadden first took up the reins with the Scotland rugby team and helped mastermind wins over France and England, the common prefix 'self' is perhaps more appropriate as Scotland launch into the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship.

The past year has provided a dressing room full of lessons, but there is a growing feeling around Scottish rugby, notably among current and past players and coaches – people who know more than most about the international game – that the 'learning curve' is heading towards a new summit.

The most cogent argument for that lies with the innately honest, direct-talking individuals in the squad itself – the ones who struggle with diplomatic-speak and just say it as they see it. They say players blame themselves for the failure to reach the World Cup semi-final and finish 2007 on a new high, and with the frustration has come a realisation that their destiny then lay, and now lies more in their own hands than those of the coaches.

But rather than more searching analytical introspection, it is more the outwardly, assured self-proclamation that Scots are desperate to display in the forthcoming tournament.

As far back as the disappointing Six Nations last year, individual errors have been the most debilitating aspect of Scotland's performances and a wooden spoon did little for morale. After a good win over Ireland and shuddering defeat to the soon-to-be World Champions in the warm-ups, Scotland ultimately rolled backwards in the World Cup. With the disappointment and tournament now past, this championship could prove that to have been a necessary step back for this team to go two forward.

Hadden received a lot of flak for the changing style of play in 2007, from trying to push an exciting style to tightening up with a more direct, robust back line – the heaviest Scotland have ever fielded – and then trying to marry the two in a "tool-box" for the World Cup.

Those trials encapsulated the difficulties of a second year for international coaches. Like a player they have to think and react quicker in a more challenging and pressurised environment; uncover new ideas, new ways to win games.

They have also to take their players with him, something Matt Williams, his predecessor, ultimately failed to do. It cannot be too complicated, therefore; it cannot outstrip the skills available; with limited time to perfect, it has to be relatively simple. And he is up against big coaching brains, most of whom spend every waking hour watching rugby, or reading about it, to uncover the slightest of edges.

But, ultimately, it comes down to the players and that is the strongest feeling to emerge from this Scotland squad as they prepare for the 2008 Championship. From the more experienced men such as Jason White, Chris Paterson, Dan Parks and Mike Blair to the younger Dave Callam, Rory Lamont and John Barclay, there has been a stunning realisation that changing from 'competitive' to 'winners' in games is in players' hands.

One might laugh at such simplicity. Of course, it is a basic tenet of playing sport, but in modern rugby the complexity of game-plans, the incredible depth of analysis, improved organisation and structuring of defensive formations has shifted greater responsibility on to coaches and eroded some players' natural desire to use their own brains.

That is not good, but is a symptom of rugby's professional age. The key is how quickly players develop the self-belief to know how and when to change tack in a game. Not only have the experienced players acknowledged this, but, crucially, young players appear more aware as a result of 2007's experiences.

Coaches have to accept responsibility for tactical failures, but, encouragingly, the current players insist they should have spotted the increasing gaps in the Argentine defence and the tiring legs earlier in the quarter-final clash, stopped kicking and kept the ball in hand more.

Motivation comes in many guises for elite sportsmen, but frustration from missed chances, the desire to prove one is better than what was last shown, must be high among them. The regret felt in the Stade de France in October has only returned to these players with the pulling on again of navy jerseys; the memory of a possible semi-final place, the first in 16 years, lost because they could not be more switched-on and decisive until it was too late. Most also have the memory of being handed the wooden spoon, in the same stadium, less than a year ago.

More positive reflections swirling around some heads this morning are of beating France in this stadium at this stage of the Six Nations in 2006, or, for Edinburgh's players perhaps, of running Toulouse close at Murrayfield in the Heineken Cup nearly three months ago.

And this is where Scotland supporters can draw inspiration ahead of kick-off today. The squad has not only learned tough lessons from 2007, it has improved in terms of skill, strength, fitness and pace since then, and added confidence from good pro team wins.

The back three of Rory Lamont, Nikki Walker and Simon Webster has a good blend of strength, speed and confidence, and Blair, at scrum-half, is revealing new layers of world-class ability, so if Parks can vary his excellent kicking game with taking the ball to the line just a bit more, we should see players such as Nick De Luca, Webster, Walker and Lamont hitting the ball, and defenders, at pace.

There are some mouth-watering jousts wrapped up in this clash. Take your pick from the back row, or from Hines and Lionel Nallet, Euan Murray and Julien Brugnault, Blair and Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde, Parks and new French wonder-boy Francois Trinh-Duc, Webster and new cap Julien Malzieu. Hopefully, the weather does not ruin it.

There is a buoyancy among Scots right now which should transfer into an intimidating full house for France, but the question most are scared to ask is: "Can Scotland actually win the championship for the first time?" Looking also at the various stages of development in the other nations, the answer to that has to be 'yes'.

Scotland have the ability, leadership and relatively good depth, and have France and England at home this campaign, so if the team can get off to a winning start at Murrayfield, and follow up in Cardiff next weekend with victory over the Welsh in their own backyard, they will develop the kind of confidence that turns near things into wins and wins into titles.