THE GLASWEGIAN REPORTS

Glasgow Bosses Have Their Say On Scots' Six Nations Hopes
Feb 3 2009 By Matthew Leslie
SCOTLAND kick-off their Six Nations campaign against Wales at Murrayfield this Sunday but a sense of deja-vu has surrounded the build up do we play Dan Parks?

Love him or hate him, the Glasgow Warriors fly-half certainly inspires debate some of it heated as reported in the Glaswegian a fortnight back and at the time of writing, it is unknown if Scots boss Frank Hadden will start with him.

Parks rival for the number 10 jersey is Edinburgh's Phil Godman who has also had his share of indifferent displays for Scotland and critics to boot.

We asked West of Scotland and Glasgow Hawks coaches, John Beattie and Peter Wright who both played for Scotland and the British Lions for their verdict on who should be our main fly-half.

Wright said: It seems like we've been having a fly-half debate no matter who has been available ever since Craig Chalmers stepped down from international rugby.

The problem is with these two is that not one of them stands out as the only contender.

Whoever starts will be chosen according to what type of game Frank wants to play against Wales.

If he wants to play a percentage kicking game, it will be Dan. If its a running one, then Phils his man.

Beattie added: I would go with Dan because Ive seen him win games for Glasgow so often. Hes done the same for Scotland in the past and if hes on form then hes in control of the game.

As for the Welsh themselves, Beattie hopes the recent injury worries surrounding ex-Glasgow ace Euan Murray and Nathan Hines clear up.

He said: If we can get our best pack fit, we definitely have a chance of causing an upset because Wales own front eight do not convince me. Their backs can only destroy you if they get the ball. We dominate their scrum, then class acts like Shane Williams will not get too many chances to hurt us.

Wright added: The is problem is, dominating them is easier said than done because they will compete up front. But if we can scrum like we know we can, then it gives us a platform.

A trip to France follows the Welsh game and both are in agreement that Scotland could be facing the ultimate winners of the tournament.

Beattie said: The beauty of them is that everyone is talking them down because their coach, Marc Lievremont, keeps experimenting with new caps only thing is, these young guys are quality players themselves.

Maxime Medard of Toulouse has the potential to be a world sensation. Some say hes the new Serge blanco but if he can run from his own try-line to to score at the other, then hell be worthy of that title.

The one thing in our favour, adds Wright is that both Glasgow and Edinburgh have gone to France and won this season (both beat Toulouse and Castres) so there should be no mental block for those players.

As for the rest, both reckon that the Auld Enemy in particular are there for the taking.

Beattie said: Their team is like their football equivalent as because there are too many foreign imports in their league, Martin Johnsons choices are somewhat limited. I don't think we should be scared when we go to Twickenham.

Wright adds: Brian Moore (ex-England hooker) has written them off but although I think we can beat them, the old saying if never think a wounded animal is done for.

While both are agreed Irelands top players are past their best, they are unsure over Italy.

I reckon the new ELVs will hamper Italy's pack with regard to the maul, said Beattie.

However, replies Wright, given that they've beaten us four times since 2000, they will see Scotland as a banker game for them.

This article was posted on 4-Feb-2009, 12:07 by Hugh Barrow.