Scotland are unchanged for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales but the real sense of stability emanating from Murrayfield on Wednesday was due to the news that head coach Andy Robinson has pledged himself to the Scottish game until 2015.
Robinson’s successes with Edinburgh and Scotland reportedly had him on the wanted list of some English Premiership clubs, and Bath he coached the club to the Heineken Cup, and still lives there were thought to be interested once his current contract expires next year, so Scottish Rugby have extended his deal until completion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
But the big message is that Robinson is staying because of his faith in the project he has begun in Scottish Rugby, that he sees the potential, and wants to see the job through.
“I’m really pleased with the relationship I have with Scottish Rugby, and that means the senior management, my management team who are a real pleasure to work with and all the players,” he said.
“The sacrifices you make are worth it when you work and are involved in a real positive environment like this.
“I’m just pleased that Scottish Rugby wants to work with me, and I’ve given a commitment in return.
“All the factors count, the potential within the squad, the young players coming through, working with the older players, with the team management, seeing where Scottish rugby is, and my working relationship with the CEO.”
Robinson believes the team has made “some progress” since he took charge.
“It’s all step-by-step, not a revolution, but it comes by us working hard.Progress”On Saturday in Paris you saw a little bit of progress on our attacking game and the confidence the players have to hold on, attack with width and with really good shape.
“But we’re here to win test matches, and that’s the other aspect: the understanding of how to develop our game and win at the same time, hand-in-hand.
“The reason we’re going to play this way is to ask more questions of the opposition,” he said.
“I’m very confident in the whole organisation and the way we’re working together for the future,” he added.
“What have I enjoyed? 9-8 against Australia, 23-20 against Ireland, the performances in Argentina and against South Africa. I even enjoyed the Welsh game last year for 70 minutes.
“I enjoy the passion of the fans, the way the players want to play for their country, and the way the guys are facing up to the challenges, working together and not shirking in any way.
“For me it’s all a good fit and I am looking forward to every international and seeing the way we perform.”
Rory Lawson’s recovery from a back injury, which caused him to leave at half-time, means the only change in the starting 22 is hooker Scott Lawson, who played for the A team against Italy A last Friday, promoted to the bench at the expense of Dougie Hall.
He went on, “Selection was still a tough decision…
“Some players really put their hand up, Joe Ansbro, Max Evans, Nikki Walker, Sean Lamont coming off the bench for an outstanding 20 minutes, and obviously Richie Gray.
“There are some who didn’t deliver the best performances of their careers but it’s vital that those guys get the opportunity to put that right this week.”FailureThe scrummage issue has been studied and Robinson underlined the message coming from the camp that it was a collective failure against the French.
“We are confident in our scrum but you saw what happened when we worked as individuals instead of as a unit,” he said.
“It was a combination of factors, we weren’t tight enough, the second rows’ height wasn’t right, and we were being beaten on the hit. Those errors will be corrected for Saturday.”
Chief executive McKie hailed Robinson’s extension. “We are absolutely delighted that we have secured Andy until December 2015.
“I said when we appointed Andy back in 2009 that he would bring success to Scotland, and I have every reason to expect that Scotland will continue to improve in the coming years under his leadership.
“Andy is an important part of the Scottish Rugby family and he has made a real impact on the national team, taking us to seventh in the world and achieving fine victories over southern hemisphere opposition last year,” he said.
“Andy is highly regarded throughout the world as a coach, and to have secured his services until beyond the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015 is a great coup and further underlines that rugby in Scotland is in good health.”
Scotland (v Wales, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Saturday, Murrayfield, ko 5pm) Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais); Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors); Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Rory Lawson (Gloucester); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons); Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors, capt); Nathan Hines (Leinster), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens).
Replacements Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Scarlets).