Matt Scott comes to fore as Andy Robinson sharpens Scotland attack

The Scottish team doubled its try tally in the second half of Andy Robinson’s initial three-year spell as head coach, but still passed up chances at key moments that would have created very different World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.

They also almost doubled the number of tries let in at the other end. Robinson would say little about his released defence coach, Graham Steadman, but the fact that he is taking personal responsibility for defence in the three matches against Australia, Fiji and Samoa – while waiting for the new man, Matt Taylor, to join up from Queensland Reds – perhaps says everything about the faith he had in the former GB rugby league cap.

With Gregor Townsend having been allowed to move to Glasgow too, there is a clear implication that the failure to improve results despite better performances lay more, in Robinson’s head at least, with the assistants than himself. So the pressure builds now.

He has hired Scott Johnson, the Australian skills coach, to improve the attack. He will begin in earnest this weekend as the squad find their feet in Sydney, ten days out from the first Test against Australia in upstate Newcastle, and it will be intriguing to see how much he tries to alter the shape and style of Scotland’s attack.

It has been much better but largely fallen down on individual skills under pressure. However, the players have changed and new options are emerging. Leaving behind Graeme Morrison, Robinson has made a statement of intent, and is looking to Scott’s differing abilities to bring a new threat to the Scottish midfield. The 21-year-old has spent the past year leaping like a salmon towards its breeding grounds, kicking off in the Premier One with Currie, then starring for Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12, then jumping into the Heineken Cup and again performing well and in February making his Scotland Test debut after a late call-up to the bench against Ireland.

And in amongst the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Toulouse and semi-final defeat by Ulster came his final law exams with Edinburgh University. They are now, thankfully, behind him, and for the first time this season his expectations drop slightly, when he admits that an honours degree will probably be beyond him after the incredible daily, post-training cramming of a whirlwind past month.

But turn back to the rugby and there is a gleam in the eye as we discuss the South Seas, and how the former stand-off might develop the inside centre role in the style of Kiwis and Australians and their ‘second five-eighths’.

“I’m still having to pinch myself that I’m going on tour,” he said. “But it’s going to be such a good experience. It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing so I’m just going to try and savour every moment. I’m also aware that I’m the only the specialist 12 in the squad, so there is an opportunity there. I feel as if I have a lot more to offer. I’m working on a lot of things, especially my kicking game. I’m really trying to sharpen that up with a view to offering more options at centre because that’s the way we should be looking to progress as a team, and having centres who can kick will help.

“Guys like Berrick Barnes are real footballers, tens playing at 12, and I would like to mould my game around that with a kicking and running game, so it will be good to see these guys first-hand.”

There is the potential for Robinson and Johnson to be bold and launch a new back line on tour. Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter will still vie for the No 9 jersey and Greig Laidlaw start at stand-off, with Duncan Weir on his heels, but Scott could be partnered by any one of Nick De Luca, Max Evans, Joe Ansbro and Alex Grove, with Stuart Hogg and Tom Brown vying for full-back flanked by Sean Lamont and Evans or Ansbro, (and then Tim Visser against Fiji).

Long-term, Hogg and Scott could be the Scottish midfield, and the fact that both possess stand-off skills and understanding add fresh threat across the back-line. For now it is still about learning for the youngsters, but Scott feels an excitement around the potential in the players he has flown with to Australia.

“You just have to look at the uncapped guys coming in and there are more waiting in the wings who were unlucky not to make the tour, but I’m sure will be involved over the next year or so.

“The main focus behind this tour is to get a good, winning feeling back, and get the Scottish spirit back. And also enjoy ourselves. It’s a long tour but we’re going to beautiful places and it’s a great place to get the squad morale back up.”