Bradley takes diplomatic route on relationship with Robinson

Published on Sunday 10 July 2011 15:03

As he prepares for his first season in charge of Edinburgh Rugby, head coach Michael Bradley takes a diplomatic approach to the question that always dogs the coaches of Scotland's two pro teams - are you your own man, or do you just do what the national coach tells you?

Former Edinburgh Rugby head coach Andy Robinson is currently in charge of the national side, which is in camp preparing for the World Cup in New Zealand, and he is nothing if not dedicated, as Bradley revealed.

"I got an e-mail from him this morning at 5:30am," said Bradley, "and I have to say he wasn't my most popular coach at that time - I think Andy's already on New Zealand time or something."

Bradley feels Robinson's experience at Edinburgh gives him a useful insight, and perhaps unlike previous national coaches, there is no prescription from the top as to how he should have Edinburgh playing the game.

Bradley said: "I'm the Edinburgh Rugby coach and my responsibility is to Edinburgh Rugby first and foremost. My job is to get Ws (for wins] on the board. Andy, as the national coach, recognises that as well.

"He was in my job a couple of years ago, and he understands the pressures involved. So I don't think that position would ever be taken by the national coach. Certainly there are discussions about players and what is best for them position-wise, and have we considered this or considered that - those sort of discussions will always take place, and that's how it will be handled."

Bradley is presently taking the team through a theoretical and technical phase of pre-season training: "I am very happy with what I've seen so far in relation to the talent that's available.

"We are very conscious of the lads who are involved with the national side, but taking them out, the rest of the squad has pulled together very well.

"The senior lads that are left are working well with the juniors and are stepping up to the plate.

"You find yourself locked away in a different world. Seemingly we had some nice days last week, but we didn't see them as we were buried inside Murrayfield somewhere.

"We are balancing skills work and strength and conditioning, and I think we have done a good job in keeping things interesting for the players.

"We'll kick into the more contact side of the rugby in the last week in July, and that will give us a good five-week run in to the first match."

Bradley could lose up to ten players to the national side for the World Cup, but is making a virtue out of necessity: "My position is that I hope all ten go because it will be a great experience for them and they will come back better and more confident players. If some do not travel, then obviously they will be welcomed back and be available for the start of the season.

"It's a good opportunity for the coaching staff to see the whole of the talent in the first ten games."

Asked for his immediate ambitions for Edinburgh, Bradley named making the play-offs of the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup as his target.

He said: "There's no point in competing if you are not going to be looking to get into the business end of the season. If we don't make that, it's not a success, if we do make that, it is a success."