Rugby: Scotland's Dan can give Italy a kicking in Six Nations match

Published on Friday 26 February 2010 09:08

THE "Dan-burster" – the pinpoint-accurate cross-kick which Scotland stand-off Dan Parks occasionally brings out of his locker – could be a key weapon in tomorrow's crucial RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Italy in Rome.

Edinburgh fans have already seen the potency of the tactic this year when Parks positioned around 30 yards infield, dropped the ball into the arms of unmarked colleague Bernie Stortoni who pounced for a corner-flag try during the festive derby with Glasgow at Murrayfield.

The ploy comes up trumps, too, often to be anything other than a potential masterstroke. Except the one time that Scotland really needed the "Dan-burster" to come good was against Wales in Cardiff last time out when diminutive Welsh wing Shane Williams rose to the occasion to deny the lurking Rory Lamont.

For the first time, though, Parks has revealed how fate again played a cruel hand while confirming he won't be deterred from trying to out-fox the Azzurri by similar methods.

"It was a shame in Cardiff that the cross-kick opportunity arose just when Rory had done his knee.

"Any other day, Rory would have caught that ball and scored but he had just picked up the injury, couldn't jump and was in the process of going to ground and having to be replaced.

"It was just one more thing that happened on an unfortunate day for Scotland but if a player is available in space this weekend then I'll try it again.

"Monitoring the right options are all part of my job as a stand-off," said Parks, who needs just five more points to become the 12th Scot to claim a century and following on from Chris Paterson (753), Gavin Hastings (667), Andy Irvine (273), Kenny Logan (220), Peter Dods (210), Craig Chalmers (166), Gregor Townsend (164), Brendan Laney (141), Duncan Hodge (123), Tony Stanger (106) and Rowen Shepherd (104).

To reach the stage where he is described as a "world class kicker" by Glasgow coach Sean Lineen has meant hours of dedicated practice.

Lineen says: "Dan's cross-kicks have come out of the way defences rush up.

"One way of holding them back is to have a guy at stand-off who can basically kick like someone throws an American football pass.

"What he has done time and again – I've seen Bernie Stortoni and Thom Evans in particular benefit at Glasgow from Dan's accuracy – is based on tremendous control.

"The fact that Dan has a very good eye for a ball is probably something to do with him also being a first class golfer and tennis player.

"So far as sending the ball a long way is concerned, Dan is self-taught but he has spared no effort in developing not only a unique style but little calls to players in different areas of the field telling them to expect his cross-kick.

"Sometimes it is overdone, I admit. But to develop this signature aspect of his game requires confidence and Dan will always take something on if he feels it's right."

For the Scots it was a case of "close but no cigar" last time out, amidst a string of injuries, sin-binnings and a bit of headless chicken impersonation when the ball should have been put into touch for a draw on the final play.

But for Italy, who lost 12-17 to England last time out, there was frustration, too, because it was the second successive occasion in Rome that they had got within a single score of a team they've never beaten yet failed to take the final step once more.

Parks prefers to focus on a possible Italian backlash to that than dwell on what might have been in Wales, saying: "We go into this game standing zero from two. We probably don't deserve that mark but that's the way it is.

"And gauged on what they have done so far, Italy will be a tough prospect.

"This will be an occasion to try to keep their crowd as quiet as possible and maybe get them cheering for us at times."

Here the Scots have an unexpected ally in scrummaging coach Massimo Cuttitta.

According to prop Allan "Chunk" Jacobsen, pictured left, this former Italian international prop has been concerning himself with matters cerebral as well as physical.

Jacobsen said: "The Latin temperament is something Massimo has been talking about and particularly how you can get the Italians to turn on themselves.

"We can get carried away with that, however, and we know what we have to do."

This will be Jacobsen's 43rd cap and rarely can more have been expected of him with a robust scrummage essential to allow a potentially match-winning Scottish back-row to exert influence.

Dan Parks has had regular close-ups of the Kelly Brown, Johnny Beattie and John Barclay combination and says: "John Barclay has been solid all year, Johnny Beattie has been destructive and Kelly will continue to make it difficult for Al Strokosch to get the No.6 jersey back."

In fact, if the Scots need an image to keep them on their toes it was the one of Strokosch, who is on the bench this weekend, trying and failing to enthuse over a man-of-the-match in the fixture two years ago because it was gained in a losing cause.

It is this strength-in-depth in certain positions such as back-row that gives Scotland, especially as they have starting scoring tries again, fresh encouragement.

But if ever there was an occasion when the pack must step up it is this one and stressing the importance of the likes of Jacobsen, coach Andy Robinson made some telling remarks this week when he said: "Allan's experience can count. He came off the bench, carried ball well and had a very good impact.

"He is coming into the side not just as a scrummager but to deliver the level of physicality he has."

During his time off the bench, Jacobsen, starting this week, was seen in regular dialogue with the referee in Cardiff amidst a welter of collapsed scrums sometimes yielding penalties.

Robinson said that the experience of 31-year-old Jacobsen will be important in getting Scotland's point across to officialdom with a degree of authority and the player himself, back on the ground where he made a Six Nations debut in 2004, insists: "Never at any time have Scotland taken the field with a plan to wheel or spoil in the scrums. We just like to get on with it."

The consequences of indiscipline have already been felt, though, and what Scotland have to remember is that during the time players have been sin-binned during this Six Nations, a total of 47 points have been scored at a rate of more than one a minute.

Scotland are favourites with the bookies this time round but that can only be justified if they keep 15 men on the pitch at all times.

Try-scorer Barclay not expecting any freebies in Rome

THE MAN who laid to rest Scotland's try-famine has described his Cardiff touchdown as a "fluke" going into tomorrow's clash with Italy in Rome, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

John Barclay made it clear he expected his side to have to work harder to pierce opposition defences if the worst record in the Six Nations Championship against the Italians is to be bettered.

"I remember looking up and seeing Wales' Gareth Cooper and James Hook before thinking I could maybe tie up Cooper in a tackle. That way Wales' wouldn't have had a sweeper and we could put in a chip-kick to get behind them. I kept driving my legs and it was maybe a fluke the way the defenders bounced off me but, nevertheless, I'll take the try."

Flanker Barclay's second international try ended a three-match drought for the Scots and was followed up later in the first half by Max Evans. Now the hope is that despite eventually going down 24-31 in Wales there is something to build on, although Barclay stresses the need for quick possession.

"Italy were criticised in Ireland for trying to work off slow possession but changed against England. By upping the tempo they got on the front foot and looked a bit like France.

"In that respect we have been warned of the need to get up quickly, get over the ball and work very hard in the contact. Italy like to play a momentum game and it is up to us to ensure we are the team going forward."

Against Wales there was a 100 per cent return from the Scots on their own line-out throw and three plundered from the opposition, which has left Glasgow skipper Ally Kellock praising two Edinburgh contributors.

Kellock, who called the appropriate throws, said: "Ross Ford's throwing was spot-on and my second-row partner Jim Hamilton was very vocal in terms of things that had to be done as we went along.

"As for the two tries that we scored, the feeling was always that it would happen sooner rather than later."

Robertson has pointers for A team and Edinburgh

HAVING scored tries from off the bench on his last two appearances for Scotland A, winger Mark Robertson is determined to take advantage of a starting slot to complete a hat-trick in Italy tonight, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

In admitting he is keen to maintain momentum Robertson is also hopeful there will be benefits both on the individual and Edinburgh club front.

"From playing for Scotland A (against Ireland and Tonga) this season I've found it a platform where you are encouraged to try things without turning it into a circus," says Robertson in perhaps hinting that every player will be keen to catch the eye for higher honours.

"Hopefully I can keep scoring tries not only to help ensure a Scotland A win but they have dried up a bit at Edinburgh recently and, when we resume at home to Ospreys on Sunday week, it will be the start of a run-in where we'll need five wins out of six to make the Magners League play-offs.

"I was included for three days in the latest Scotland session and that has produced ideas I can take with me to Italy and also back to the club. While trying to achieve my objective of playing at the highest level there's a reminder in the A team, though, of the increasing competition with Edinburgh colleague Simon Webster back from injury on the other wing."

Webster has yet to start a pro game this season but Scotland A coach Sean Lineen believes he will take tonight's clash in the northern city of Biella in his stride.

"Simon has oodles of energy and is full of beans. He'll challenge and want to do everything," said Lineen.

The teams

ITALY

15. McLEAN (Treviso)

Age 22. Caps 16. 6ft 3in. 14st 13lb. 6pts.

14. MASI (Racing Metro)

Age 28. Caps 48. 6ft 2in. 14st 6lb.55pts.

13. CANALE (Clermont Auvergne)

Age 27 Caps 53. 6ft. 14st 9lb. 30pts.

12. GARCIA (Treviso)

Age 26 Caps 15. 6ft 1in. 15st 1lb. 5pts.

11. MIRCO BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais)

Age 27. Caps 68. 5ft 11in. 13st 7lb. 108pts.

10. GOWER (Aviron Bayonnais)

Age 31. Caps 8. 5ft 9in. 14st 2lb. 17pts.

9. TEBALDI (GRAN Parma)

Age 22. Caps 8. 6ft. 13st 12lb. 3pts.

1. PERUGINI (Aviron Bayonnais)

Age 31 Caps 68. 5ft 11in. 16st 10lb. 0pts.

2. GHIRALDINI (Calvisano) captain

Age 25 Caps 26. 6ft. 15st 8lb. 0pts.

3. CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester)

Age 28. Caps 64. 6ft 2in. 19st 2lb. 10pts.

4. GELDENHUYS (Viadana)

Age 27. Caps 8. 6ft 8in. 18st 3llb. 0pts.

5. BORTOLAMI (Gloucester)

Age 29. Caps 79 6ft 5in. 16st 7lb. 0pts.

6. SOLE (Viadana)

Age 29. Caps 43. 6ft 5in. 17st 4lb. 20pts.

8. ZANNI (Treviso)

Age 25. Caps 39. 6ft 4in. 15st 10lb. 5pts.

7. MAURO BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais)

Age 30. Caps 81. 6ft 1in. 15st 6lb. 70pts.

Replacements: Ongaro (Saracens), Aguero (Saracens), Del Fava (Viadana), Derbyshire (Padova), Canavosio (Viadana), Bocchino (Rovigo), Robertson (Viadana).

SCOTLAND

15. SOUTHWELL (Stade Francais)

Age 29. Caps 49. 6ft 2in. 15st 1lb. 40pts.

14. DANIELLI (Ulster)

Age 30. Caps 22. 6ft 4in. 16st. 30pts.

13. M EVANS (Glasgow)

Age 26. Caps 8. 5ft 9in. 13st 11lb. 10pts.

12. MORRISON (Glasgow)

Age 27. Caps 20. 6ft 3in. 16st 8lb. 15pts.

11. S LAMONT (Scarlets)

Age 29. Caps 42. 6ft 2in. 16st. 35pts.

10. PARKS (Glasgow)

Age 31. Caps 48. 5ft 11in. 14st 7lb. 95pts.

9. CUSITER (Glasgow) captain

Age 27. Caps 49 5ft 10in. 13st 6lb. 15pts.

1. JACOBSEN (Edinburgh)

Age 31. Caps 42. 5ft 10in 17st 9lb. 0pts.

2. FORD (Edinburgh)

Age 25. Caps 35. 6ft 1in. 17st 5lb. 10pts.

3. MURRAY (Northampton)

Age 29. Caps 29. 6ft 1in. 18st 9lb. 10pts.

4. J HAMILTON (Edinburgh)

Age 27. Caps 24. 6ft 8in. 19st 8lb. 0pts.

5. KELLOCK (Glasgow)

Age 28. Caps 22. 6ft 8in. 18st. 0pts.

6. BROWN (Glasgow)

Age 27. Caps 32. 6ft 4in. 17st 3lb. 15pts.

8. BEATTIE (Glasgow)

Age 24. Caps 9. 6ft 4in. 16st 10lb. 10pts.

7. BARCLAY (Glasgow)

Age 23. Caps 40. 6ft 2in. 15st 10lb. 10pts.

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), Dickinson (Gloucester), Hines (Leinster), Strokosch (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh), Godman (Edinburgh), De Luca (Edinburgh).

Referee: Dave Pearson (England)