EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
It's not my fault


MATT WILLIAMS has received a stay of execution after an extended presentation to Scottish Rugby Union’s executive board - but the reprieve seems temporary after a former internationalist today blasted the coach’s claims that problems were inherited.

The national coach, who has a contract until 2007, told bosses that the team he took over 18 months ago was hampered by a lack of fitness.

The Australian spent 90 fronting up to his bosses. For around half that time, the ex-New South Wales and Leinster coach took the floor, with the rest of the session turned over to questions from the 12-strong board.

Focus inevitably fell also on a backroom team, mainly comprising assistant coach Willie Anderson, pictured below, high performance manager Steve Anderson and national coaching co-ordinator, Brett Igoe.

Critics claim the SRU went out of their way to allow Williams to answer his detractors, pointing out there was no obligation to allow an employee who is not a director to state his case personally.

The board meeting was part of an annual review and took place after another disappointing Six Nations campaign.

The players were given the opportunity to contribute and many are thought to have criticised Williams’ methods.

And one multi-capped player, who attended the World Cup just prior to the hand-over of power, said today: "We were taken for special fitness training in Poland as part of the World Cup build-up and afterwards complimented on our conditioning by coach Marty Hulme, who was in charge prior to a fall out with Matt.

Marty was surprised how fit we had got ourselves."

The internationalist claimed that Williams’ talk of anything other than results was a red-herring calculated to ease the pressure that has been growing on the coach - especially since players began questioning his methods.

"Coaches can hide behind statistics as much as they want," he added.

"Fact is, at the top level international players are pretty much all the same, fitness-wise. If a discrepancy can be brought out it is usually only for one reason - as an excuse.

"Besides, what was wrong with Scotland’s fitness judging by those second half fightbacks this season against Wales and England especially?

"In those games the damage was done early but the team still showed sufficient stamina to pick themselves up in the later stages, at least."

Meanwhile, SRU insistence that a decision will be made before the end of this month was today branded as dilatory by the independent fans’ organisation.

Spokesman Neil Hunter said: "This review process, which is common to many industries, seems to be taking forever.

"It doesn’t help the situation in Scottish rugby generally for there to be such a delay.

"We understand there has to be a review process and it is usual for it to be very thorough with everyone being asked. One wonders what there is left to do. There has been a month since the end of the Six Nations and that should have been sufficient time."

Acting SRU chairman/chief executive Fred McLeod today declined to comment on the timescale for the review.

He said: "Decisions will continue next week and all options, of course, remain open."

Former Scotland coach David Johnston said today that, regardless of what emerges from the current inquest, the way ahead should include a new management structure.

He said: "I don’t think we need a full-time Scotland coach for around ten games a year. That is particularly the case considering we have three pro teams, all fully coached.

"In Scotland there are around 40-50 players capable of pulling on the Test jersey and they are all being coached already by the likes of Frank Hadden at Edinburgh, Steve Bates in the Borders and Glasgow’s Hugh Campbell.

"There is no need for an upper tier. Instead, Scottish Rugby could benefit from combinations of, say, Hadden and Campbell or others. Also, while they are on Test duty, the way would be clear to give further experience to bright young coaches such as Peter Wright (under-19s) at pro team level. "Scottish rugby has never been so close in years to having a blank sheet of paper on which to re-define itself. Ian McGeechan is leaving shortly and a new chief executive as well as a chairman will have to be appointed.

"I can see plenty of scope for looking afresh which, in the longer term, can really benefit Scottish rugby."

The SRU has promised to complete its review by the end of the month and Mike Keohane, SRU corporate affairs director, said: "I expect there to be several meetings and discussions next week. Some of these will be by tele conference before a decision is concluded."

Keohane added that Williams had made a full presentation, describing how Scotland’s performance and fitness rated in world terms and the team’s performance since he took over.

Keohane said: "It was a very good presentation and it recognised what needs to change going forward.

"The important thing is to be sure we have gone through normal, proper procedures and we make the right decision for Scottish rugby in the future.

"It would be easy to be simplistic and look at the position of the coach - we are looking at all aspects including support and management team that is provided for the national side."

This article was originally posted on 22-Apr-2005, 19:18 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 22-Apr-2005, 22:55.