The Scotsman reports


David Ferguson: Lineen not ready for top job in Scotland, but promotion marks him out as one for future

SATURDAY INTERVIEW



By DAVID FERGUSON
THE SEVENS season is into full swing and the Scottish Cup final looms, but the prospect of Scotland's three head coaches forming a new national squad brains trust is arguably the most intriguing issue of the moment.
There would never be official confirmation, but speculation is rife that because neither Sean Lineen nor Andy Robinson wanted to leave their club sides and step up to the top job yet, Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive, only felt able to move out ADVERTISEMENTthe assistant coaches, Alan Tait and George Graham, and not Frank Hadden for the summer tour.

Argentina have already selected a 35-man home-based squad for the June Tests with Scotland and Italy, but The Scotsman now understands that many of them will feature in the Churchill Cup tournament, as an A squad, and that any leading players in Europe released by their clubs will fly to South America around the end of May/beginning of June.

Neither Argentina nor Scotland know yet which French-based players they will have, however, with the French league running to July – only Stade Francais have apparently ruled out their men – but Scotland need at least one win to have a chance of moving up two places in the world rankings this year and being seeded among the top eight in the 2011 Rugby World Cup draw, in December.
Glasgow head coach Lineen says he is excited by the opportunity to work more closely with the national squad as part of Frank Hadden's coaching team. Picture: Ian Rutherford
Lineen stressed this week that his focus is firmly on Glasgow's remaining league matches away to Ulster and Munster, and their bid to finish in the top five of the league for the first time. But it was clear as we discussed the recent changes, and as the 46-year-old bounced about in his chair, that he is excited at the prospect of a hands-on-coaching role within the Scotland squad, an environment he has only flirted with since retiring as a player at 30 and with 29 caps. "Of course I'm excited," he said, "because I know the players pretty well and know they have the talent to be a very good Scotland squad. We can go to Argentina and win not just one, but both Tests, and, looking further ahead, I would also love to be involved in the autumn when we play the All Blacks because with the number of guys they have lost, and the fact we're their first tour match, I believe that is a great opportunity to beat them for the first time.

"But, right now, it is important that Glasgow continue to improve and continue to win because that is the most important thing our players need right now – to win games back-to-back and realise the confidence, ambition and just the enjoyment that that brings to your game and your life as a rugby player. It's huge for them and Scotland's potential, and too many of our players haven't experienced that."

Lineen has always been an animated figure and we speak as his young sons, Cameron and Jacob, fight for supremacy on the trampoline, having just come in from a run with their dad, after golf, athletics, swimming and football lessons; all in a four-hour period after school. It is no surprise given the family they were born into – Sean's wife, Lynne, is a daily runner and competitive tennis player, and his father Terry a former All Black.

Born and bred in Auckland, Lineen started his working life as a police officer before rugby took him to Wales, brought him back home for an unsuccessful All Black trial and then to Scotland. The first 'kilted Kiwi' endeared himself to this nation by partnering Scott Hastings in the centre through Scotland's Grand Slam win of 1990 and their World Cup campaign in 1991, which almost brought a final appearance, but certainly cemented Lineen's link to Scotland.

He did not leap into coaching after finally quitting as a player in 1996-7, but as someone who spent so many hours poring over world rugby, analysing moves and scribbling copious notes on new ideas, he was always destined for such a move. After steering Boroughmuir to successive league and cup trophies and working with Scotland U21s, he accepted a second invitation to turn professional and join Hugh Campbell at Glasgow. Lineen took over three years ago and has gone on to work with the Scotland A and senior squads, and is viewed by many as the national coach in waiting.

"I still make mistakes; I know that," he said. "I like to be honest with players, and some accept that, some don't, so you find different players require different approaches. Sometimes I don't get it right, and if you were to ask me 'do I think I'm ready for the Scotland job?' I'd say 'no'. I don't deserve it yet, but, then, I don't know if you're ever perfect for the national job.

"I was surprised to be asked to join Frank for the tour, but delighted because I think I have something to give, but also a lot to learn. Andy and I were involved during the Six Nations, but I wasn't coaching as such. This will be different because Frank wants us to coach and that's what we both enjoy most I think.

"I would like to coach more hands-on at Glasgow, but there is so much organisational stuff to do as a head coach, and we don't have a big management team. And you want to let your assistants learn and develop, and I've also had Peter Wright in, and Cammy Mather recently as well, to help develop the next generation of young coaches.

"But I've got back to more coaching lately and on the Argentina tour I'll be able to really work with the backs, some of whom I know well and others, like Chris Paterson, who I know, but have never really coached. That is exciting and I'm looking forward to it."
Sean Lineen and England captain Will Carling compete for possession as the ball goes loose at Twickenham in February, 1991.
Lineen and Robinson are only temporary appointments and are expected to return to their clubs for pre-season in late June. We say 'expected' because it remains unclear what the SRU's short, mid and long-term plans are. McKie plans a post-tour review, but all that may tell him is whether the new trio could work together through the autumn Tests when the Magners League goes into hibernation. He knows Hadden pretty well after nearly three years of working together.

Three head coaches represent a very different dynamic to one chief and two aides. Robinson has been his own man for many years now and Lineen has developed into the head honcho in the last three at Glasgow, but Lineen insisted: "We all want the same thing – a winning Scotland team – and because we're pretty experienced I think we'll work well together.

"There will be healthy debate about a lot of things and I'll bring my usual energy to it. My job is to challenge and be challenged, excite and enthuse the backs, but though we will have more input, it's Frank's team and Frank's game-plan."


Robinson, Lineen and Hadden share some philosophies on the game, but differ in others. After a poor run of form, Scotland need fresh ideas and Lineen has never been short of those. We spoke recently, for example, of the need to bridge the gap between the club and professional levels, as too many talented club players either fail to get picked up or, worse, fall into the chasm between the two.

He would like to see a "Super 8" league above the current Division 1 where teams representing the four districts – Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Borders and Caledonia – blend fringe professionals and academy players with the top club performers. On current form, this would involve Boroughmuir, Watsonians, Melrose, Hawick, Ayr, Glasgow Hawks, Stirling County and Dundee.

"If Scotland is to hang on at the top table of world rugby, our clubs have a choice to make very soon," he said. "We need to develop players better than we are doing and how do we do that when the gap between club and pro rugby is getting bigger?

"Well, we either let clubs remain as they are, which is fine, and Glasgow and Edinburgh hold more 2nd XV games, which will involve club players more often, or we create a stronger elite club level which uses our club affinities and strengths. Players and coaches would love a 'Super 8' because the quality would be better and it would give them a better stepping stone to professional rugby. Spectators would love it and sponsors would be interested too. Who wouldn't like it?"

Gary Parker and Ritchie Gray, the current Gala coaches, proposed a similar plan three years ago, but it was not even entertained by clubs. Yet, intriguingly, Warren Gatland appears to have won agreement for a similar move in Wales with plans revealed yesterday to integrate more professional players into an enhanced club premiership competition.

For Lineen, however, Glasgow is where his focus lies, and where he must prove himself if international coaching is to become a more permanent challenge.

"I'm looking forward to the tour, but I don't want to leave Glasgow yet. We have made progress in terms of going unbeaten for a year, losing at home only once this season and producing more internationals, but these are small steps.

"The big steps are winning regularly, winning titles and being widely respected. We had a tradition, not only at Glasgow probably, but Scotland-wide, of being graceful losers, but the players are starting to realise the difference in winning.

"Our funds, our crowds and facilities don't come near the top Magners League and Heineken Cup sides, but that's the challenge. Look at the quality young spine in the pack we are developing – John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown, Al Kellock, Fergus Thomson, Moray Low – and we're signing more young Scots at the moment.

"But from top to bottom in Scotland, we're not doing our players justice at the moment. The steps are not good enough to prepare them for professional and international rugby and while we've got to be as innovative and imaginative as we can, work as hard as we can and thank God we have understanding families, in a country as small as ours the whole rugby community has to come together a lot more effectively to create success, irrespective of what coach is at the top."

This article was posted on 26-Apr-2008, 07:42 by Hugh Barrow.