Interim Scotland head coach Scott Johnson says he has seen enough in Vern Cotter to suggest he can be a success when he takes over the post on a permanent basis.
The Clermont Auvergne boss is set to take over the reins as the permanent successor to Andy Robinson in June next year unless his French employers decide to terminate his deal early.
In the meantime, Johnson will carry on taking the team after leading them to third place in this year’s RBS 6 Nations.
Johnson helped select New Zealander Cotter for the job.
While he admits their relationship is fresh, some of his most trusted confidantes have given the 51-year-old their full recommendation.
Johnson paid tribute to his new colleague by comparing him to All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.
The Australian, who is the SRU’s new director of rugby, said: “Do I know Vern like a brother? No. But we have mutual friends, have coached against each other a bit, worked with similar people.
“Going off their recommendations, he reminds me of Steve Hansen, who I worked with and had a great relationship with.
“This wasn’t done lightly but I like to think I’m pretty much a straight-up-and-down kind of bloke and I think he is too.
“There were a lot of good boxes that he ticked. The thing I like about Vern is that we are walking towards each other.”
There was confusion as Cotter was being unveiled at Murrayfield when a statement from Clermont president Rene Fontes surfaced suggesting the Kiwi had tendered his resignation.
However, Cotter and the SRU insisted the offer to step down was news to them.