Rugby: Beattie wants Scotland to up aggression in Six Nations

Published on Tuesday 9 February 2010 09:08

FORMER Scotland rugby star John Beattie insists it must be 'no more Mr Nice Guy' when his successors take the field in Wales on Saturday in the second round of RBS Six Nations fixtures.

According to one-time Heriot's No.8 Beattie, the Scots need to be more robust compared to when opening with a 9-18 home defeat by France.

Beattie's BBC radio commentary on Sunday at Murrayfield once called for new cap Richie Gray to "hit somebody" on grounds that he wouldn't be sent off within minutes of entering the action.

Continuing in a similar vein for his BBC blog today, Beattie says: "Scotland were a bit nice at times. I watch the Irish and the English mump and moan and push the laws to the limit while we are too honest. But, then, it's a national trait.

"Let's up the aggression."

Besides a call to arms, Beattie also gives a technical assessment of Scottish shortcomings, particularly in attack.

"Scotland's attack strategy, again, was changed from what we might see ordinarily under Andy Robinson. I expected to see runners off the 10 (stand-off) channel, Phil Godman, which is the Edinburgh and Glasgow style.

"Instead, Scotland had changed their attack pattern to try to get outside the blitz defence, which meant they had to take a risk and lie wide and not try to get over the gain line immediately. So that's why it looked at times as if Scotland took time to go forward."

There were successes, though, with Beattie singling out scrum-half Chris Cusiter for praise and highlighting line-out gambits.

The Scots had a few tricks up their sleeves with long throws to Kelly Brown or John Barclay over the top of shorter line-out."

Scotland were naming their team later today and Beattie anticipates coach Andy Robinson "will have a look" at the stand-off position. Any change would mean a move from full back for Chris Paterson clearing the way for the reintroduction, perhaps, of Rory Lamont. Up front, a recall for Euan Murray is on the cards.

SIX NATIONS TEAM GUIDES:

Scotland

England

France

Ireland

Italy

Wales