SRU backs Andy Robinson after coach says he wants to stay in job

ANDY Robinson has been given the SRU’s backing to continue as Scotland head coach after convincing chief executive Mark Dodson that he has the ability to turn around the national squad’s ailing fortunes.

The Englishman took over the post in the summer of 2009 and, with Murrayfield wins over Australia and South Africa, and historic triumphs away to Ireland and Argentina, Robinson started, like many of his predecessors, in bright fashion.

However, he has managed to secure just eight more victories in a total of 29 Test matches in charge, and watched his sides drop out of the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time in their history.

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They slumped to a first Six Nations wooden spoon in five years and first whitewash in eight, and are at a record low of 12th in the world rankings, which would ensure they are again in the third pot of seeds for the next World Cup, to be drawn in December.

The abject performance against Italy in Rome two weeks ago shocked even Robinson and he admitted that it was the lowest point in his tenure. He said that he would take a fortnight to consider his position and whether he believed he was still the right man for thr job.

The experienced World Cup-winning and British and Irish Lions coach, who turns 48 next week, returned to Murrayfield this week with his confidence refreshed and is understood to have informed Dodson and his management team that he believes Scotland do have the quality, and he the ability, to make a significant improvement in results next season.

Dominic McKay, SRU director of communications and public affairs, confirmed that Robinson met Dodson yesterday morning and the chief executive then took forward the SRU’s review into the Six Nations at the afternoon board meeting with a “full and frank” discussion. That ended with the board agreeing to back Robinson, whose contract runs until the end of 2015, and Robinson will make a full presentation to the board at its next meeting in a month’s time.

McKay said: “Mark Dodson and Andy Robinson met today for discussions on the Six Nations. Those discussions were positive and concluded that Andy will continue to lead the Scotland national team with the support of his revised coaching structure.”

Some members of the SRU management have spent the past fortnight taking soundings around the game, and debating at length the potential for success with Robinson still at the helm.

But, once he had agreed to continue in his post, any bid to remove him would have been both costly and brought significant upheaval.

Robinson has already reshaped his management team after three years, releasing defence coach Graham Steadman and agreeing for Gregor Townsend to move to Glasgow Warriors as head coach. Australian Scott Johnson, who has worked with Wales and the Wallabies as a skills coach, has been signed up on a lucrative contract and will join the squad in Australia in June, and Matt Taylor, the current Queensland Reds assistant and former Scotland ‘A’ flanker, will similarly hook up as Steadman’s replacement when the current Super 15 rugby season finishes this summer.

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Gavin Scott, the former Currie and Scotland ‘A’ hooker, has also been promoted from chief analyst into the team manager’s position, replacing Dougie Potter, though he will continue to oversee the technical analysis team with support from Glasgow and Edinburgh staff.