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Robinson in frame to take over Scotland job as Hadden departs

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Published Date: 03 April 2009
By David Ferguson
FRANK Hadden's tenure as Scotland's head coach came to an end last night after the Scottish Rugby Union board agreed that he should step down in response to a third consecutive RBS Six Nations Championship that ended with just one victory from five games.
However, the speed with which the SRU has moved to change the head coach is being taken to mean only one thing: that Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson, who helped inspire England to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, has agreed to take over as the next Scotland coach. It is believed that the Scottish Rugby board, on McKie's recommendation, decided to end Hadden's contract. The SRU issued a brief statement yesterday which said only: "Following a meeting today of the Scottish Rugby Board, (the SRU] announced that it has been agreed that Frank Hadden will be stepping down from the position of head coach with immediate effect."

McKie added: "Following a presentation at today's Scottish Rugby Board, covering a review of the Scotland performance in the RBS Six Nations Championship, it was agreed with Frank Hadden that a change in head coach is required to allow us to plan fully for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. On behalf of the board, I have thanked Frank for his hard work and commitment during his term as national coach."

The statement concluded: "(The SRU] will begin the recruitment process for a new head coach with immediate effect." It was also confirmed that discussions would be ongoing with Hadden as to whether he will remain employed by the SRU in a different capacity.

There has been much talk in recent weeks over who might be available and be the right candidate to replace Hadden, were he to depart after four years at the helm and a continuing struggle to turn potential into winning performances – with just four victories in 16 games.

Todd Blackadder, the former Edinburgh coach now coaching the Crusaders in the Super 14, was mentioned, while Bryan Redpath was another candidate as the former Scotland captain continues to prove himself as an assistant to Dean Ryan at Premiership outfit Gloucester.

Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach, would be ahead of both of them due to his experience as a head coach and former internationalist, his knowledge of the Scottish game and affinity with the players, while Steve Bates at Newcastle was another in the frame, but the chance of him wishing to work again for McKie and the SRU regime, after the pain he felt at the Borders' closure, is slim.

But all the talk of now moving into a wide recruitment phase to find the next Scotland coach may be no more than window-dressing. The SRU has to go through the proper procedures, but there was always only one question that needed to be answered in recent months: would Robinson take the job if it was offered to him?

McKie has become a firm fan of Robinson since the former England and British and Irish Lions flanker first took up the offer of coaching Edinburgh in the summer of 2007. Last year he agreed to help support Hadden on tour to Argentina, but resisted any greater role as he had only been with Edinburgh for eight months and, crucially, he had spoken to players of his commitment to the club for this season when persuading key figures to re-sign. However, this year may have been his final chance at the Scotland post as McKie was pushing to have a coaching team in place through to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Some might wonder why a proud Englishman would wish to lead Scotland, but Robinson is a professional coach, and he has made no secret of the fact that he feels he has unfinished business in international rugby.

Robinson has also won wide support from players with Edinburgh and Scotland 'A' this season, and has cultivated a respect and belief within the game that he could succeed where Hadden has failed. He has also worked closely with Gregor Townsend at Edinburgh and, indeed, suggested to Hadden that the former Scotland stand-off join the national coaching team. While there will be questions over whether Robinson, who is a hands-on coach, will wish to keep forwards coach Mike Brewer, it is likely defence coach Graham Steadman will be retained if the SRU can hold on to him.

As for Hadden, his former job at Merchiston Castle School is vacant, but the 54-year-old has much to offer the Scottish game, particularly with his experience in Test rugby. The SRU is in discussion with him over a future role within Murrayfield, which could even involved a return to his previous position of Edinburgh coach.

• Parting of the ways was inevitable for an honourable man in the wrong job

• Robinson would be my No1 choice, and most people's No1, says Chalmers

The full article contains 830 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 April 2009 12:31 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Six Nations , SRU
 
1

Colt,

03/04/2009 00:21:16
Sounds like moving deckchairs on the Titanic.
Hadden has a possible future role within Murrayfield?? Based no doubt on his dramatic failure to achieve anything of note with Edinburgh or the national team.
Robinson, Brewer, Lineen, Steadman??? Yes, based on their sparkling successes also no doubt.

Scottish Rugby is in a hole. It needs new thinking, new blood and a period of some stability in which to achieve something. That is, no quick solutions likely between now and World Cup. If we can't afford a decent coach close the doors at Murrayfield and lets all go off curling next door.

SRU turnover last year was £28million, the average wage of its over 250 employees is more than £50,000 p.a. - it cant afford NOT to bring in a decent coach plus a Director of Rugby.

If only the deckchairs move then the CEO should walk the plank.
2

Aitchie,

West Harbour 03/04/2009 02:00:55
You little beauty!

Nice man (although a bit pig headed), very limited head coach of Scotland.
3

Fayneant,

NZ 03/04/2009 03:08:20
A Guffie and a Kiwi as the SRU Dream Team?

What is happening to Scottish rugby?
4

pound,

fife 03/04/2009 03:20:35
It does not matter who replaces Frank. FACE it Scotland has not got the world class players to beat any team in the top eight on a regular basis.

Look at at the physicality of all the other teams especially those of the Southern Hemisphere. All outdoor countries as in lots of sunshine and daylight. Before you laugh, look at each country and the size and athleticism of the population ,not just rugby players and compare them to Scotland.

Same with attitude, no mongrel in them, players that came from NZ and Aust have had to fight for every team and position they achieve.They come across and are qualified through family and are selected in the Scotland squad because they are used to competing with mongrel and attitude. Scotland has a small base therefore not a lot of competition for a physical sport.

I am not saying Scotland won't change,but it will take an excellent coach to change attitude and get the killer instinct into the players. Too bad we can't get the sun for a couple of months or take the squad to the sunshine for a month or two.

I wish all the best for the new coach and players.
Scotland need to get behind their national team and show some PRIDE , win , lose or draw
5

Cathcart Boy,

London 03/04/2009 06:41:48
The job is only hlf-done. McKie should walk as well. Ever since before McKie there has been talk of the need to develop the grass roots game, to create a stream of talent. And what is the result after the years of McKIe's leadership? A bankrupt Union, lousy performances on the field, no sustained development programme results, nothing.
6

Alistair Macintosh,

03/04/2009 08:13:31
When Robinson took over at Edinburgh there was an immediate improvment in tactics and commitment. Several of the English players have said it was Robinson helped them win the World Cup rather than Woodward. I would be happy with Robinson,
I would also be happy if we could get Blackadder, but that's just a pipe dream!
Scotland teams would be fired up by either of them, which in my view is one of the things which has been lacking.
7

Nacker,

EH12 03/04/2009 08:18:51
#5
Quite an accusation against Mr McKie. I assume you have never met with him nor familairised yourself with the governanace structure at Murrayfield.

a. The "Union" is not bankrupt. A quick check on Companies House website will confirm that none of the Sctotish Rugby Union companies are in liquidation.

b. "lousy performances" are outwith Mr McKies remit. He has not as far as I am aware, offerred himself for selection as a player nor as a coach.

c. Mr McKie is not directly responsible for player and coaching development at Murrayfield.

Whilst I agree that there are some areas that need improved, perhaps you should firstly get familiar with the structure, then vent your anger at the appropriate department or if you are a Club member, discuss it with your committee who have an avenue to raise this through the appropriate channel. If you are not a Club member, stop sniping, join a Club and do something useful for Scottish rugby.

Gordon McKie and his financial team have saved Scottish Rugby from financail ruin, like it or lump it, so don't blame him for every other problem.
8

gordonium,

weege 03/04/2009 08:37:11
no, no, no, does no one remember how bad robinson was as england coach??
with the players he had available, he made a complete crock of it.
he is a hands on coach, not a head coad, strategist, tactician!
please sru, we deserve a total new start, someone with a WINNING track record!!
PLEASE!!!!
9

leemagee,

Perth 03/04/2009 08:43:10
If Scotland want to be successful then they need to do 2 things:
1 - Get the structure right at youth and grass-roots; at the moment, there is not enough in place to identify talent at a young age and then nurture that through. The players coming throught the Scottish Institute of Sport lack size and killer instinct - something not lacking in the Southern Hemisphere. We have pace: the Evans', we have a world class goal kicker, we have a strong pack with Murray, Ford, and Hines Hamilton, and we have skill, with a number of our players playing in the Premiership. We have simply lacked direction and a level head. This is best illustrated by this year's debacle at tight-head when Hadden played loosies, claiming we were short in that area. Barry Stewart played tight head at Sale for a number of years and now does the same at Northampton. Surely he would have been a better choice than playing a loosehead in the specialist tighthead position. Would any other International team have done this???
2 - Hire a Rugby League attacking coach. This might seem strange but it is a simple solution to our problem of a lack of tries; most international defenses are run by league defense coaches and use league structures. How do you beat a league defense??? With a league offense! Wales have done it...they've gone ok over the last 3 years!!
10

Delboy29,

03/04/2009 08:51:54
#7 - Spot on! McKie has done, or started to do, what he was hired to do - i.e. restore the SRU to some form of financial viability. He's no ray of sunshine, but he has got results on the finance side.
I still think we need a buffer between McKie (and the board) and the head coach - in other words a Director of Rugby. Hadden would fared much better with a DoR in place....maybe someone who actually liked (or could handle) the press for instance!
11

jdships,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 08:55:10
"The SRU is in discussion with him over a future role within Murrayfield,"
As the man said "You gotta be jokin'" !!!

Still need to build the game from the bottom up instead of the other way roung.
To "Nacker" I have met Mr Mckie on a number of ocasions both formally and socially and have never neen impressed with his knowledge of the game of rugby football in general. He may be a good financial manager but have little faith in his general organisational capabilities.
Why the rudeness to 5 ?
He was only expressing his opinion which he is surely entitled to do - there is more than a grain of truth in what he writes IMO
12

Rabbit10,

03/04/2009 09:05:33
4# - you are absolutely spot on. frank was always going to go no matter what but we have to stop romanticising back to the days of early 90's successes. we have what we have, and bar blair, murray and hines, not one player would make it down south. maybe T Evans, although his defence may get exposed more. Even Cusiter is coming home with his tail between his legs, like the best goalkicker in the world did. Glasgow are near the tail end of the magners league, edinburgh are at the top end but still nowhere near good enough to win it. leinster and munster are streaks ahead.
if we want to succeed we will need a motivator and not a tactician, and we need players who actually care, rather than it just being part of being a pro rugby player. Robinson may be the favourite but he was poor with England. Lineen will just play the Glasgow team. we need someone with some objectivity from outside Scotland.
13

John south of Soutra,

03/04/2009 09:17:41
While I'm happy that action has been taken to change the coach - I have nothing against Hadden but he has had his chance and has not improved things - I am extremely concerned that they are looking for another role within the SRU for him, this is how we got into a mess in the first place - how many jobs with the SRU did Richie Dixon have after he was sacked as coach. If they swap him round with Robinson that would nothing sort of criminal.
Leave Robinson where he is and go and get someone like Eddie Jones who is going to Japan, or the Argentina coach who has just left leicester.
I agree with #11 above, I have also met McKie and he does not come across with any vision as to how we are going improve the game in Scotland, yes he has done a great job with the finances but we need someone at the top who knows about rugby and who can drvie things forward.We desperately need a 3rd team (and eventually a 4th), even if it is a Connaught type where younger players can go and develop as at present where do the good U20s & U19s go, when they play the other nations they play against guys who have GP or ML experience.
A radical rethink is needed for rugby in Scotland and the clubs need to play their part as well, as we are trying to play too many games in a season, players are now expected to committ 9-10 months to rugby and we wonder why we are losing players as they reach their late 20s. Lets get away form the petty parochialism and selfishness that some clubs display and try and build a structure to make rugby in Scotland strong, for this we need to cut down the lenght of the club season and to put more into the grass roots
14

AlastairS,

03/04/2009 09:17:41
Well said 7# and 10# McKie has done what he was employed to do i.e. get the SRU on a sound financial footing and add some professionalism to the structure. While Frank Hadden seemed to struggle as the national coach his experience at all levels from school professional club and national level should make him an ideal candidate to bring on the young talent and promote rugby at the grass roots and I hope he is offered a job in that capacity.
15

Bigwull,

edinburgh 03/04/2009 09:21:05
Cut the pro teams and let the players find their level in the real leagues in the world.
16

bunker,

03/04/2009 09:24:11
Until we get rid of the Grey suits, the Old school tie and jobs for the boys attitude from the SRU, Scottish Rugby will never progress beyond its present sorry state. (the old "its not what you know but who you know" ) I had been involved in youth rugby for over 10yrs. There loads of potential scottish youth players out there at under 16 but most lose interest between the age of 16-18 because of the way the SRU handle youth development at this crucial age. Most are discarded at district level and the opportunity to progress before they mature and reach anywhere near there true potential. A significant number are lost to the game for ever. For me its a crime and has a huge impact on playing numbers in the adult game. So yes for what its worth the whole SRU structure needs reviewed in my opinion to produce a body who will listen rather than dictate
17

daffy_b,

03/04/2009 09:24:35
I'm not sure about either Lineen or Robinson for the job.
Lineen - not enough experience
Robinson - not a good internatioanl track record as head coach

Maybe this is the time to think big and go for a big name and a "winner".

Money shouldn't be the barrier to getting a top name.

e.g. Hadden was on approx £130k per year, say a big name coach wanted approx £300k - the SRU would need to find an extra £170k - if they managed to persuade a big name to come they'd immediately get more seats sold at the AI's and the 6N next year on public interest alone - at average of £30 per ticket, that's only 6,000 extra seats they'd need to sell in a year to make up the difference - easily achievable. Especially with the 3 teams lined up for the AIs this year and England/France at home in 6N(almost guaranteed sell-outs).
18

Scotsguy76,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 09:26:46
Thanks for all your effort Frnak - best of luck in the future
19

thistle do,

here n' there 03/04/2009 09:36:46
Ok that's the first move. Now let's get out of cosy Murrayfield with its aparachiks. Not Robinson nor Lineen. No more Toonie in a coaching role until he gets real coaching experience. New open thinking on a new coach. No more paying over the odds to keep "stars" in Glasgow or Edinburgh, encourage and support them to play in England and France where there is real competion.
20

Venachar,

03/04/2009 09:50:00
I'm with John south of Soutra, sounds like a repetition with Richie Dixon. If something similar happend don't think it would be very good.
What makes anyone think that an underperforming coach would make a good Director of Rugby?
As for the last sentence of the article about going back to Edinburgh Rugby - the Scotsman could just have undone all the good work that Nic Cartwright and his team have done over the last couple of seasons. I certainly would not renew my season ticket and neither would my wife or my son.
21

jaad,

EDINBURGH 03/04/2009 09:53:14
Yet another year of turmoil at SRU.

Team needs a Director of Rugby – a individual that the players ultimately are a little scared of – the “bad cop” routine. The structure that Telford and McGeechan had.

It is very easy for everyone to say Robinson is the man for the job, he’ll be the savious. But did we not all say this about Hadden.

If you look at facts, Robinson has not done that well in the Magners league either – given all the international players they have so why would he be any better than Hadden at international level.

Are the players and coaches all a bit familiar with each other??
22

kenbo9,

03/04/2009 09:55:45
Redpath - get real David! Did you just read that on somebody's posting and think you should repeat it?

pound #4 "Physicality" - what a sh*te and overused word. When did that come into being?

Also disagree re players and English Premiership - all Scotland players apart from 10, 12 and 15 (not Rory) would easily make it

23

Colt,

03/04/2009 09:59:41
#14
McKie was not solely brought in to firm up the finances. If he had been he would be the Finance Director not the boss. The Union was in such a state financially that any accountant of any quality could have made a difference.

He is responsible for the performance of the business - someone running a company doesn't say my books are ok now but I am not selling anything or making any new products. He appoints the rugby personnel, Hadden plus anyone else.

So where in the last 5 years has he taken us? Do you see the positives in youth rugby, club rugby, the pro teams, the national team, age groups, sevens, womens, referees, attendance at internationals, input of new finance, sponsorship deals? Please share that with us and also the vision for Scottish Rugby. Perhaps one win every 3 years and qualifying for every 2nd World Cup . That will be fine if the books balance will it?

And #7 I know many people who have had dealings with McKie and not one of them talks positively about his abilities. You talk of the governance structure in glowing terms so I assume you have no experience of it whatsoever. Governance in terms of power to make a difference sits squarely with McKie and his acolytes -if you don't know that you need to do more homework.
24

Border Terrier,

terra firma 03/04/2009 10:27:39
You're wasting your breath in mentioning anybody but Robinson. Look at the other articles. Look at the statements over the past few weeks. It's Robinson. Like it or not...
25

scot in Dublin,

03/04/2009 10:28:31
colt - loving your comments about moving deckchairs on the titanic. couldn't agree more. The SRU chiefs all need to walk the plank before scottish rugby will make any real progress. I still see no reason why we cannot have 4 professional teams (ed, glasgow, borders and grampian). Look at the likes of munster and leinster pulling in 20,000+ people to their games. not to mention french and english professional sides and their ability to attract people to the games. The root cause of our national side performing poor on the pitch for years now is the SRU's lack of ambition ever since the game turned professional.

Short term - we need a coach that can get in the players faces and give them a kick up the backside. 2nd we need someone who can pick a team the rest of the entire country can see should be picked (eg parks' 50 near cap fiasco).
26

Neil R,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 10:39:29
Can we prise McGeechan away from Wasps?
27

Gordon, Canonmills,

03/04/2009 10:39:47
I would like to think that Hadden’s departure might put an end to the culture of failure at Murrayfield.

It is totally unacceptable for a Scotland coach to approach the Six Nations aspiring to a “40% success rate”!

Whether or not we realistically accept as reasonable such a result after the fact is another story, but to have two out of five as your ambition says everything about a coach’s attitude.

For me the cameo that sums up Hadden’s sojourn as coach will be the shameful “surrender” to the Kiwis at Murrayfield during the WC.

We desperately need a successor in the post with more “fire in his belly”!
28

Mike D W,

03/04/2009 10:58:52
It is heartening to see a number of posters trying to combat the rabid anti-McKie postings we continually see on this forum.
29

Yada,

03/04/2009 11:01:41
#25 There's no point in comparing Scotland with Ireland (or any of the other countries that people put in the frame).
Ireland = Gaelic football, rugby, football.
NZ = Rugby, rugby, rugby
Oz = Aussie Rules, rugby, cricket (and any other sport they can think of - they're good at all of them)
Scotland = football, football, and more bloody football.
AND there are more people who play cricket in Scotland than play rugby, believe or or not.
We're a minority sport and will become more so unless we can get an interest in the game back into the schools.
But we are never *really* going to compete in the top flight unless there is a change in young people's opinions of the game and that would take several generations, if it ever happened at all.
30

Lewis Lad,

03/04/2009 11:07:36
#26 McGeechan!
Have you seen Wasps this year?
He should also be one his way out of there at the end of the season as his contract is due to expire.
Think he already had a crack at the whip and should not be given another one.
Who would want this poisoned chalice?
You are either dammed if you do or dammed if you don't in the eyes of the supporters.
Just to quote Richard Cockerill the Leicester acting head coach "If you spend to much time listening to the man in the stands you will pretty soon be standing next to him".
Will a new expensive coach actually put more bums on seats or are some people having a pipe dream it's the players that you go to watch not the coach!
I could not care less if it was a martian with three heads or Jake White so long as we start winning games and performing well... after all England have struggled a bit under MJ and they still manage to put bums on seats.
So lets get behind the new coach and always remember that if you could do a better job then coach and do something and please send your applications to the SRU not the Scotsman as many have done in the last couple of months!
31

Moop,

Ayrshire 03/04/2009 11:22:11
#23, your wrong actually, McKie was brought in on the banks insistence.
32

Mike D W,

03/04/2009 11:59:53
#31 True

How very ironic that the bank should insist that McKie head up the SRU as it was a financial shambles which was losing money hand over fist in light of the current meltdown of the banking industry.

However, my personal opinion is that he has done a good job in steadying the ship.

#30 Spot on. Too many 'supporters' seem to think throwing money at the problem is the answer. There is no quick fix. Love the Cockerill quote.
33

AJ Fife,

03/04/2009 12:01:23
Andy Robinson????

Didn't we try a duff foreign coach before?
34

GAR,

Dublin 03/04/2009 12:15:54
A big, high profile expensive coach doesnt equal success..... or does it?

What about Mallet?
35

DonaldDon,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 12:18:37
Have to agree with no.25. We will never be able to compete in the 6N unless we expand the player base and give people in different areas the opportunity to play pro-rugby. Ireland has the right example for a small country like ours. I would suggest we need 4 teams and they need to be based around the population centres and give them identities that people can identify with. Re-name the teams to Edinburgh & Borders Rugby United; Glasgow & Stirling Warriors; Fife, Perth and Dundee Devils and Aberdeen Highlanders or something like that. It'll take a generation to get them competetive but you've got to start somewhere. The existing amateur clubs are attached to each regional pro team, and development officers are responsible for spotting talent and fast-tracking them into pro-team training, and seeing if they've got what it takes to make it in the professional ranks. Just my tuppence worth, but the whole amateur rugby establishment needs to realise times have changed and they need to be part of the solution by helping the pro-game develop in their area. Some of the smaller amateur clubs in an area may have to go to the wall to give the pro teams a chance to pull on the best talent in the area.
36

Rosbrog,

dublin 03/04/2009 12:21:14
scot in Dublin

i agree 4 teams are a minimum thats not to say we can't improve in the very short term because the players are not that bad, just still lacking a no 10 and a few centres to add to max evans. Look back at attendances at the start of the pro era, attendances were reasonable, 3-5000. Teams need continuity and to build up a tradition, the districts have that but they haven't hads the chance at all to succeed. Only the sru finances put pay to them. Give them some cash, allow investors in and results and more so, fans, will come i have no doubt.

The dreary folk who kepp saying we're no longer good enough etc etc, well scotland and other teams have been in slumps before and always come through them again, its natural. Whats not natural is to cut your teams and give up because of a slump. its a decade since the 99 5 nations win and i think we are not far away internationally from getting a few wins. We didn't concede many tries this year for a change.

No comparison with argentina, ok they had a great world cup but we are not talking about a permanent successful side that we should aspire to. Their geography has hindered them, we have the celtic league and european cup to lok forward to and i believe there are fans out there who will watch the districts. I'm not sure about edin or glasgow cos they have had 13 unbroken years and have did little and not drawn big crowds. Perhaps four teams from scot competing would bring back an edge for spectators and players alike, players facing more rivals for their position.

I'm sure caledonia with games, pre season, celtic league, european cup/challenge cup could be spread around stirling, aberdeen, dundee, perth. Likewise with the borders around hawick, gala, melrose, kelso etc. I'm not saying those teams would not have a base or a base would evolve (which of course would be needed for the euro games say) but there has to be a reaching out initially and power handed over to the districts to a large extent.

37

Rosbrog,

dublin 03/04/2009 12:25:08
What i meant to say was that i think edin/glas crowds may improve too with a bit more rivalry in the pro game in scot with 4 teams.

I have no ill feeling towards edin/glas but i think it is a continued disgrace that they have survived everything in the pro game with no justification (attendances / results) in comparison to the borders and caledonia who were treated, in the borders case more than once, abysmally!
38

Chris M,

03/04/2009 12:26:07
What's so duff about Andy Robinson? - think he was the brains behind the engine that helped England win the World Cup in 2003 and not Sir Clive.

Scotland need a coach who will give the players the winning mentality, to win games. Not just be in the running - "we should have won, but it all went to rat-sh*t in the last 10 minutes"!

#30 - a poisoned chalice indeed!
39

Scotty F,

The Borders 03/04/2009 12:57:13
#29 couldnt agree more, we need to get people interested again, some help from the Scottish government would be nice, BBC "Glasgow could start talking about rugby more as opposed to the old firm all the time, and the SRU should seriously consider summer rugby.

On the Frank Hadden issue, thank the Lord he is gone, cant fault the commitment but some of the bull he came out with and his tactics on the field were awfull, Andy Robinson would be good along with Lineen, we need to focus on the world cup, that group is there for the taking!!!
40

specky,

03/04/2009 13:27:15
The fact remains that most people still show their loyalty with their club and do not support their pro team meaning there is simply not the fan base in scotland to support 4 or even 3 teams. The SRU cannot fund four teams without decent gate receipts.

Without more teams we will continue to be a nation that picks its starters from a group 2-3 people, (look at how many 10's we pick from) which does not provide adequate competition or enough players exposed to the pro level of rugby. The SRU should be looking to promote london scottish which will see decent gate receipts or look at Ireland's example of connacht who are effectively used as a feeder team for the bigger clubs, but are very cheap to run as a result.

A new coach will have the same effect that hadden did when he first took over, but it is hard to maintain this over the course of several seasons. Soon enough idiots like Ian Morrison will be calling for their head. In the long term we will continue to struggle unless we have more pro players competing for the jerseys.

It also shouldn't be forgotten that although our record is poor we are playing in a decade when out of our main competitors England won a world cup and ireland and wales are experiencing the best periods of rugby they have had in decades. We are legitimately the diddy team.
41

Club Player,

Aberdeen 03/04/2009 13:27:55
We needed a change and I think a bit of a harder nosed approach from someone like AR will help Scotland improve at least in the short term.

But Scottish rugby will remain in the doldrums until
1. we can start getting more folk playing rugby at all levels
2. we can get more folk supporting our pro-teams and 3. we can get our two pro-teams competing more consistently in the Magners league and heineken Cup.

With regards to 1., we should be aiming to reduce club seasons to a max length of 6 months which would at least encourage some of the older guys to stay involved.

For 2 and 3, they are connected and it can be argued that we are getting there especially with near 10k crowds for the derby match
42

JT,

03/04/2009 13:30:29
Firstly hands off Robinson, he has unfinished business with Ediburgh, however if he does have to go can he not job share it with Lineen?? #29 This is soo true, you never see either BBC or STV mention magners league games or even cover it and what happened to the sunday afternoon rugby programme? The SRU must go into schools that currently dont do rugby and encourage them to change their minds. I was shocked to hear people at work saying that they had never played at school.
43

W.Robertson,

03/04/2009 13:43:40
I seriously hope we can get another coach other than Robinson! The man hasn't really done anything with Edinburgh or the Scotland A's for that matter! The A team has had some of the worst performances that I can remember even if they've had the strongest team with the inclusion of the likes of Webster, S.Lamont, Kellock etc.

I believe that he's a "bully" who has very poor people management skills.

Surely we can find someone better!!
44

rugbyman,

03/04/2009 13:48:56
To those who say we should shorten the season and play fewer games or play in the summer (when schools and everyone else is on holiday): how exactly is that going to increase the numbers playing the game when the clubs who nurture and coach them have to finance their operations from fewer home games ? Name another major rugby-playing country that plays rugby in their summer ? Take away the structure and you will see a lot of clubs going to the wall. If clubs go to the wall there will be even fewer players coming through the ranks. if you play in the summer there will be no Schools rugby which means even fewer players coming through.

Who says our players can't cope with the standard in the English leagues. nobody seems to have told Strokosch or Jason White ? Nobody seems to have told Scott Gray or Tom Smith - yes he's still playing. Nobody seems to have told Dickinson or Rory lamont. They are all first choice for their English teams.

On the coaching front, why to the cream of our rugby players need to be coached all the time. They just need a decent, but not too rigid, game plan and then play what's in front of them. What we are lacking is a figure of respect who can motivate them. Take the comparison with football, where some of the most successful managers of international teams have never coached a club side: Klinsmann; Van Basten; etc. We could easily put in JJ and get him to tell the players exactly what it takes to beat all the Home Nations and win a grand slam and send them out ready to lay down their bodies for their country. At least then if we lost we would know it wasn't for lack of ambition or effort.
45

Jockbok,

03/04/2009 14:06:33
Doesn't the position of Coach have to be advertised by law? Having sat through the Connacht match last week, I think I would leave Robinson there and bring in someone else.

As for Mckie - he has to go too. After all, he appointed Hadden and then reappointed him when everyman and his dog realised Hadden was not up for the job. Mckie's decision was by no means a success. It was always, however, the cheaper option. Accountant penny pinching.
46

ken cameron,

mossley 03/04/2009 14:13:25

WOULD LIKE THE SRU TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE RETIRING

COACH FROM DOLLAR ACADEMY.
47

Dasco D Scott,

Houston 03/04/2009 14:19:11
Common theme in all of this is that there is no great choice of alternatives to Robinson if we consider him the current favorite. Also comment 29 high lights a fundamental problem with Scottish team sport,and our ability to motivate sufficient numbers to play, that would then enable us to identify the small % who have the natural ability to progress, its the same with Football, despite all our interest, we are not producing anything like the numbers of European or world class players we used to. So for me its still a grass roots problem, we have never fully overcome the move away from promotion of team sport within our schools. That is what has to be resolved, the kids with the natural talent are still there, they are just not motivated to play Rugby. Maybe we need to look at when we play it (Gavin Hastings) preached a switch to a spring summer season, we sure need to do some thing different.
48

royco,

03/04/2009 14:46:26
16. Bunker. There's a big discussion on the whole subject of youth and school rugby on www.fosrs.org.uk along the lines you are saying.

I see from the poll there that Rob MacQueen is by far the favourite for the coach job, followed by Jake White. Andy Robinson is well behind, competing with Steve Bates.
49

boarderer,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 14:53:38
We need to look at who is in charge of development from under17 to the pro game this seems to be a problem - unsure who it is, this working well will assist any new coach and create more pro players, can we increase more academy games and enter a Scottish Thistles team in the challenge cup with Scottish coaches not development officers running the team.
If the new coach is not Scottish he must have 2 or 3 Scottish coaches working with him, Robinson is favourite unsure if he has another agenda regarding the first phone call from the guiness premiership.
Lineen probably a kiwi Frank Hadden so no chance.
50

Aligator,

03/04/2009 15:19:27
There are two many important issues mixed in this discussion. The issue at hand is to find a new Senior Coach for our national team. The other big and truly important issues raised here concerning the future of Scottish rugby need tackled outside that narrow context.

I think Lineen and Robinson should stay with their present teams for a longer period (2/3 years) until we can see more sustained team success at this level.

For Scotland we should find the best professional coach for the job regardless of nationality, even if we need to find a few more 'bawbees' in our sporran. The person chosen should be able to gain the respect of Robinson & Lineen. The right man for the job will be more than worth it.

Candidates from outside our claustrophobic Scots world could include international names (Rod MacQueen, Nick Mallet); leading SH coaches (John Mitchell, Ian Foster, Todd Blackadder); top English GP coaches (Steve Meehan, Mike Ruddock).
51

mangrove jack,

queensland 03/04/2009 19:14:36
13*
Eddie Jones? Please tell me you are joking. The man is a recipe for disaster, he has a long track record of being disruptive and divisive. Besides that he is a proponent of field position and safety first at any cost; the game needs attractive backline flair and running. Jones will make sure that kicking duels and continuous phases are the order of the day.
52

Neil R,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 21:25:18
No. 30

No, haven't followed Wasps but I reckon McGeechan was head and shoulders above Woodward in the Lions tour to NZ. He led the midweek team and got the best out of them. He may well lead the Lions to victory this coming tour which is more than could be said for Hadden. Are you saying he's just a bad coach or that Scotland players are so inadequate nobody could get the best out of them?
53

P Rayner.,

London. 03/04/2009 21:36:20
You´ll forgive my impertinance but my suspicion is that Robinson is no deep thinker and Mcgeechan is past is sell by date , as is evidenced by a mediocre wasps . Try to get a good SH coach .
54

Aubrey W,

Fyfe 03/04/2009 22:34:20
Robinson would be cheaper than a top notch foreign coach, but I think the team's problems are so much deeper than coaching. It is more about the limited pool of top qualitry players that are available. Scotland never was a strong international team in the amateur days - on average that is - and things have worsened in the professional age. Whether much can be done about this I don't know, but it's not the coach that does it.
55

TerrigalJambo,

NSW 03/04/2009 23:31:16
The best way to inspire grass-roots rugby and more playing the game is to have an inspirational national team. Therefore we need an inspirational coach to get the best from the players. National pride doesn't get Scotland very far in these days of the professional game, so let's get the best coach money can buy, one with a record of success. Let's look to NZ, Australia and SA as quite simply that's where the best rugby is. Put the money out there and get the best person Scotland can afford, because trying to do it on the cheap just hasn't worked.
56

muppetspotter,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 23:48:19
Some comments here are as deluded as Newcastle Unt fans can be! Robinson is a good choice - and he has a point to prove.

 

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