Six Nations: Steadman given notice as ruthless Robinson seeks to strengthen team
SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson is to shake up his coaching team as he steps up his bid to improve the national side, with a 27-13 loss in Wales yesterday taking the head coach’s record to ten defeats in 12 Six Nations matches.
Robinson watched Scotland perform well for long spells in the Millennium Stadium but fall to a fourth familiar Test loss in a row. Again, the Scots dominated the first half of the game, but a failure to cross the white line and apply the finishing touch left the door open for a comeback.
And again a mistake under pressure handed Scotland’s opponents the initiative at the start of the second half and the Welsh capitalised with three quick tries which underlined the difference between the sides’ respective strike-forces.
Greig Laidlaw, starting his first Test match, and at stand-off, did claim Scotland’s first try in five internationals, but it was of little consolation.
Wales now head to Twickenham hunting a Triple Crown, with Warren Gatland having underlined his favourite status for the role of British and Irish Lions head coach.
But the Scotland coach insisted afterwards that his squad are on the right track and that victories will come. It will not be with the current coaching team, however, as he confirmed the news revealed by Scotland on Sunday yesterday that he is releasing his defence coach, Graham Steadman, when his current contract ends in May.
“Graham is seeing out his contract,” he said. “He hasn’t been [offered a new one]. I don’t think it’s right for me to go on about why here. I will speak at a later stage about that.”
It is understood that Steadman has been given the required notice that his contract will not be renewed because Robinson has his eyes on someone else to fulfil the defence role. He refused to comment when asked whether he was considering changing his other assistant, attack coach Gregor Townsend, but that seems unlikely.
Mark Dodson, who took over as SRU chief executive last year, told The Scotsman at the turn of the year that Robinson’s position would not be under pressure even if Scotland suffered another poor tournament, insisting that as the new man at the helm he was determined to give the head coach time to build towards the 2015 World Cup, which is the length of time Robinson is contracted to the SRU.
However, Robinson has moved to bring in Australian coach Scott Johnson, though he will not join up at Murrayfield until after his current commitments with the Ospreys end this summer.
Johnson has an attack background, but Robinson has spoken often of his desire to mentor and develop Townsend as a future international coach. With Scotland’s attack patently more incisive and line-breaks now common in every game – a clear improvement on pre-Robinson times – the fact that players continue to cough up chances within sight of the try-line indicates that the key issue is one that players rather than coaches can do most to influence.
Robinson and his players were frustrated long after last night’s final whistle, but the coach and his skipper, Ross Ford, insisted that now is not the time to tear up the game-plan and return to the drawing board.
“It was a physical game, and a very good game of rugby,” said Robinson, “but it [defeat] was down to us not being able to keep our composure when we’re on the Welsh line just before half-time, when we should score points, but don’t, and then just after half-time we miss the kick-off and we drop off a tackle and Wales take their chance well.
“I’m really proud of the way our team played, the endeavour and attitude they’ve shown, but there was an error made and we’ve been punished for it.
“We have a decent side. We went toe-to-toe with Wales, who are a good side, and both sides were feeling it because they went at each other, but it hinges on small moments and [the period] just after half-time was crucial for us.
“We will analyse the game and show the guys the amount of good rugby that was played. This is about winning and losing but the way we are trying to play is, in my belief, the way that we’ll start winning.”
Ford added: “Everybody is feeling the same way. There is so much hard work that goes into it that to come away with nothing is very disappointing.
“There is still belief in the squad that we are there, we are creating chances, with a lot of opportunities again today, but it’s time that the hard work was melded with a bit of clear thinking and staying composed under pressure. Everybody in the squad knows that and there is just real disappointment at the moment.
“We knew it was going to be a physical game and knew we had to match that, and we did, but it’s like everything before … that real composure under pressure.
“The players are [deflated] and rightly so, but we wake up tomorrow with new challenges ahead. We will give this game a look-over, but then we put it to bed. The belief will come from within the squad. Everything is generated there and that’s where it has to come from. But it is still there.”
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Comments
There are 42 comments to this article
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Balders
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:00 AMYes Donald Marr I am talking about Sean Lamont the one you say quote who fearlessly runs at ( SHOULD SAY INTO )defences putting his body on the line,time after time( WITH NO EFFECT APART FROM GETTING ISOLATED AND GIVING AWAY PENALTIES OR TURNOVERS) and is always looking for work and impressed at the world cup. The simple facts are that Sean Lamont has now got 62 caps and while he has scored 8 tries the problem is that the 7th one was scored duso quick sum says 1 try in his last 32 caps for a strike runner is woeful to which you must agree hes had his time and now he is a showpony which means all show no substance .... maybe you might agree now but i doubt it. I would love to have to come on here and eat my worlds if he scores and we beat France but he has had his time and hes got his deal with Glasgow.
KINGFISHER1
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:43 PMThis is all far to technical for me. What is a showpony doing in a rugby team. I thought they had hookers! As for trys, well, I could not possibly comment. I will plead granny's rights, which of course take me North to Inver ............NOT Ness!
grantbill
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:45 PMI don't know how up to date this is but.........as the announcement of Graham Steadmans sacking is given B.B.C.text service says that Scott Johnson has left the Ospreys today instead of the end of the season. Confirmation is also given that head coach Sean Holley has also left today. Does anyone know if Holley is to replace Gregor Townsend in the Scotland setup?
braveheart64
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:55 PMDear Seeya.Sorry did not realise that 'Down Under' also meant New Zealand. I wont say anything further - if you live in Christchurch i think you have suffered enough
Oor Man in London
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:04 PMOor Man says that the entire Scotland SRU management team and attack coaches should have been sacked (or sacked themselves) at least 5 years ago when the lack of try scoring ability became apparent and then ........ sadly persistent. However the problem does not just lie at the management level. It goes a whole lot deeper right to the heart of the state of rugby within Scotland's schools and the lack of quality rugby academy talent coming up through the ranks.
123kid
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:59 PMtotally agree with Lennon with regard to R.Lamont, Cusiter etc. Sean Lamont is void of the handling skills needed to supply the likes of Hogg and Jones quick ball to chest to get the best out of them, he is now unsuited to this team. play Scott at inside and even give Grove a chance perhaps at outside, although very unlikely, England were there for the taking but AR didn't have the balls to blood new, and now needs a victory of any sorts to redeem this ever familiar campaign.
donald marr
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:16 PM#34 Sean Lamont a showpony? Are we talking about the same guy? I'm thinking about the one who fearlessly runs at defences putting his body on the line,time after time,is always looking for work and impressed at the world cup. A good player helping out in a foreign position, he was asked to play.
Lennon
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:23 AM#30 No offence Kiwi guy, but i don't think anyone is really too interested in your trying-too-hard-to-be-offensive opinions...sorry. As to the matter in hand, i think we have to realise that some players are just not performing to the required standard at the moment. Good players though they are, Rory Lamont, Cusiter and de Luca should be dropped, and Sean Lamont should in the long term be dropped to the bench as an impact player, covering positions 11, 12, and 13. Blair should be in at 9, Matt Scott should be given a go at 12 and Joe Ansbro, when fit, in at 13. (Continue with Sean Lamont at 13 till then). Hogg should be in at 15.
Balders
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:17 AMspot on scotsforwards, 3 players that need to go Cusiter, far too slow at getting the ball away always looking for penalties instead of getting quick ball away and kicks badly and runs across the pitch. Sean Lamont always been an SRU show pony and playing him at 12 is criminal and Rory has hardly played a game in 2 years and got bombed out of Toulon and what has the SRU gone and done given them all 3 year contracts at Warriors, what a joke as noone else wanted them and if they did they were only offering 12 month deals...im a warrior fan and I do not want any of them as we have much better young talent and the money should be used to tie them down long term and also to properly support our young elite and academy players who are the future.
shrek4
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:24 AM#30 You are right and thats by virtue of the mindset of the SRU. That mindset has manifest itself on the pitch in them picking players such as Dan Parks. We saw the influence of a No10 on the NZ team when they lost Dan Carter during RWC.------------------ I just hope we are turning a corner now and the mindset starts to change within the SRU. Perhaps we can get a 3rd pro team (in the borders) and kick on from there..........
seeya
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:35 AMBravefart 69 Actually I'm a Kiwi from Christchurch. Idiot!!
braveheart64
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 05:25 AMDear Seeya.A view of Australian Rugby from a Scottish ex pat living in Brisbane.You have a bunch of over hyped,overrated underachieving players.You have an underperforming KIWI coach and your prime minister is ugly.If you want to comment pls stick to the Courier Mail.
seeya
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 04:25 AMA view on Scottish rugby from down under. Uninspiring boring players An under achieving coach from England And a rather humourless English lady as its Patron. Sad really!!
shrek4
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:41 PM#24 No we're not a great sporting nation, but we're not that bad mate.. http:en.wikipedia.orgwiki2006_Commonwealth_Games_medal_table
scotsforward
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:48 PMWhat about Thompson or Brown to replace the other Lamont?
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