Andy Robinson challenges Scots to be an 'inspiration'

ANDY Robinson has challenged his Scotland players to "inspire the nation" when they launch a first RBS Six Nations Championship campaign under his command at Murrayfield on Sunday week.

• Scotland coach Andy Robinson and captain Chris Cusiter display the RBS Six Nations trophy at the tournament's launch in London yesterday. It is 100 years since France joined the competition. Picture: PA

The Scotland coach and his skipper Chris Cusiter joined the coaches and captains from the other five nations at yesterday's launch in London of the 2010 tournament, a historic one in that it is 100 years since the original four home nations became five when France joined the group in 1910.

France visit Scotland in their first match intent on re-igniting the attacking flair that helped them to a convincing win two years ago, but Robinson also believes Scotland have drawn much confidence from their autumn Test victory over Australia and are eager to improve upon it with a more skilful attacking philosophy.

He said: "Winning gives you confidence, that spring in your step, but our key purpose is to inspire a nation and it hit home to me, after that game (against Australia], how that winning performance inspired the nation. If you could bottle that up it's what you would look for every time you go out to play.

"This is a warrior sport and you are searching for the toughest competitors that will put their bodies on the line. Our guys understand what that means. The courage they showed (against Australia], in putting their bodies on the line, was fantastic. Now, we want Murrayfield to be an intimidating place to play every time we go out there."

Robinson acknowledged that the great challenge facing Scotland was to uncover a more clinical scoring threat, highlighted by a poor return of tries, but insisted he was confident he had the players to do it.