THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
By DAVID FERGUSON
in Buenos Aires
ANDY Robinson and Sean Lineen declared themselves satisfied with having played a part in helping Scotland finish the season with an historic victory in Argentina, but were quick to state it would be the end of their involvement at national level.

The Edinburgh and Glasgow coaches were drafted in on a temporary basis by Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive, to assist Frank Hadden, the head coach, after they dropped previous assistants George Graham and Alan Tait in an RBS Six Nations ChampioADVERTISEMENTnship review – although what the review really decided was unclear as Tait was swiftly drafted back into the team for the summer tour.

The board now face the same discussions, because if Hadden wishes to continue as head coach for the autumn Test series, then, as things stand, he will be working on his own. Graham is considering positions outside Scotland, Tait joins Newcastle next week on a three-year contract, and Lineen and Robinson return to their clubs believing it would be wrong to ask them to combine roles there with a national brief leading up to crucial autumn Tests with New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

Robinson said: "I love working at this level. I had six great years with England in the international game and it was brilliant, and I have really enjoyed my time with Scotland in Argentina, but I have a role to play with Edinburgh and it is a key role for me. That is the most important focus for me.

"I don't think it's possible (to combine both roles]. I just think it is too tough to be able to do that. There are a lot of quality people out there that can potentially step in and do the role that myself and Sean have done here working with Frank.

"It is important for me that they are found. I have loved what I did and it fitted coming at the end of the season because I was coaching the Scotland A side, and did a little bit during the Six Nations, but to be all year round just isn't going to work."

Lineen said: "I have had Glasgow business to deal with even on this tour, which is not ideal. I have enjoyed being involved and working with the national squad, but I am really looking forward to getting back to Glasgow after a family holiday and firming everything up for our pre-season tour to France. We have a lot to do there.

"I have every confidence in my assistants at Glasgow, but while the end-of-season tour was fine, it would be hard to combine a national squad coaching role with the pro team job right through the normal season."

Both are SRU employees and may, of course, have no choice in the matter if McKie and his board intervene as they did after the Six Nations, but, with the 2011 World Cup beginning to hove into view, it may be that it is time for a clean sweep. Deciding on that is relatively easy, but choosing who should take over is a much more complicated business, especially for an SRU ever-mindful of cost considerations.

Robinson and Lineen are both contenders for the top job, but they and McKie are determined to continue the task of building stronger foundations at pro team level and are reluctant to rock the work done there in the past season.

They have left a mark on the national squad, however, with players speaking of having learned much from the pair's attention to detail. Robinson was quick to praise both Glasgow and Edinburgh, their finishes to the season and the confidence that helped to generate among a largely home-based squad in Argentina. And he is excited at the prospect of returning to Murrayfield with 11 players who have tasted overseas success.

"I think there is huge potential for Scotland," he said. "That is one of the reasons I was excited about coming up in the first place. When you look at Johnny Barclay, Ross Rennie, Alan Macdonald, Ally Hogg all competing for the No 7 shirt; and Simon Taylor, Ally Hogg, Johnnie Beattie, Dave Callam at No8... The whole pack is hugely competitive, and then you look at the back line with exciting wingers, centre partnerships and the battle at half-back. The depth is coming as is the knowledge of playing international rugby, and the key thing now is the growth of leadership within the Scottish game."

Robinson and Lineen will have big roles to play in developing that, but at Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, as the pre-tour forecast that three head coaches into one would not fit long-term has proven accurate.

This article was posted on 17-Jun-2008, 06:53 by Hugh Barrow.