Six Nations: Scott Hastings not afraid to tackle issues

In a no-punches-pulled interview former cap record holder Scott Hastings has also highlighted where the recent clash with France was lost and pointed a finger at attack coach Gregor Townsend when insisting “they have had the opportunity to score and really take a grip of matches but, unfortunately, defensive frailities and errors have cost Scotland.”

Hastings said: “The inability to score tries – as was saw in the World Cup – has come back to really haunt this team.

“I’ve always called upon the senior players to play above their rank (and) I think I saw for the first time in the match against France somebody like Ross Ford suddenly playing to his potential.

“The only disappointing thing was he (Ford) was taken off by Andy Robinson with 12 minutes to go (and) I think it must be disappointing in this modern age that a lot of players never seem to see out the 80 minutes yet they have the physical attributes to do so.

“I thought Ross Ford was playing outstandingly well and suddenly he was taken off.”

Acknowledging that France had earlier brought on William Servat to freshen their front row and hinting that the quality of the respective benches was decisive, former Watsonians and Edinburgh captain Hastings noted: “Suddenly you saw France wear down a Scottish team that had a game there to be won.

“A criticism of Andy Robinson has been selection and coming into this championship the half back combination that was performing out of the top drawer for Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup was Laidlaw and Blair; it took Robinson three games to identify that to select them.

“Unfortunately it just came at the wrong time and it has been a bit of a disaster in terms of some of the selections. There has also been some bright light . . . Stuart Hogg has come in from nowhere and really lit Scotland’s performance up (and) the back row has certainly been one to watch.

“Scotland is very much a work in progress but we have been saying that for the last three years.

“Their kicking plan, their strategic kicking, has not been able to release the pressure. To play an off-loading game for 80 minutes is very taxing on the players as we saw when Scotland played against Wales.

“There were 23-24 phases of possession and Allan Jacobsen knocked on a metre short of the try line. That must frustrate the coaches, must frustrate the team because it is a high risk game, an off loading game. When the errors creep in . . . against Wales it was Laidlaw who missed a tackle on Cuthbert. Against France there was a missed tackle by Lee Jones (and) there was another missed tackle by Laidlaw that cost Scotland 14 points.

“It is difficult to play catch-up rugby in that situation.

“Scotland play a great game but they don’t seem to manipulate the game in way where they had an opportunity (v France) at 17-10 to get back in and get control.

“(Then) Malzieu was able to break the tackle of Lee Jones and put Medard in. It was that type of mistake that cost Scotland the game.”

Amidst speculation that coach Robinson might quit after this tournament Hastings says: “I think Robinson will ultimately stay (although) the Six Nations record has been very disappointing . . . only two wins in the last two championships, a meagre return for the effort that has gone in.

“He is looking to strengthen his coaching set-up by bringing in Scott Johnson (but) I do have a question mark . . . Gregor Townsend needs to be challenged. Scotland are making line-breaks they are just not polishing off. There is a potential strike runner in Stuart Hogg (but) other players have to take responsibility. I don’t see a George North who is able to score the tries (for Wales) unhinge a game and that is what Scotland must look to do.

“It is not going to be the individual, it has to be the collective and the collective has not quite clicked yet.”

Questioned on the paucity of resources with only two professional teams due to as policy of central control, Hastings said: “There are only in the region of 25-30,000 adult rugby players and the adults include 18-year-olds.

“Stuart Hogg is 19 (and) all the youngsters out there have the opportunity but there are only two professional teams playing in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league therefore the academy players and the players on the fringes aren’t being exposed to a high enough level that allows them to step up.

“But Scotland have always had this issue. In my playing days, Scotland always had to punch above their weight. Everyone can appreciate their style of rugby is good, their collective ability is good (so) once the win comes it may be able to be turned around.”

The team to face Ireland is named later today and Hastings would not rule out changes, saying on Talksport Radio’s weekly rugby show: “Scotland have to look at themselves and I appreciate they have had two Sunday games so have been shorn of one of the quality tight heads in Euan Murray (who refuses to play on the Sabbath).

“If Murray can come in that would anchor that scrum.

“Jim Hamilton, for such as big man, he huffs and puffs a lot . . . maybe if Alastair Kellock comes back in? He proved he is still hungry and Richie Gray has the talent but we are lacking the out and out scrummagers (like) Iain Milne and Paul Burnell who was technically very good.

“Allan Jacobsen on the loose head has been outstanding but he lacks that huge bulk for a major international prop forward.

“It’s a quick turnaround for Ireland. There might be a bit of fatigue that creeps in. But Scotland have to take every opportunity, play with confidence and also trust in their defence.

“If they can eliminate mistakes and be in the game with 20 minutes to go they’ll give themselves a chance.”