WE'LL BE READY FOR AUTUMN CHALLENGES - GRAHAM
Posted: 11/Oct/05
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Assistant Coach George Graham today looked ahead to the challenges Scotland face in next month’s Murrayfield Autumn Tests and said his players were ready to face them head on.

Graham was joined by his three fellow assistant coaches, Sean Lineen, Alan Tait and Shade Munro, at a media briefing at the end of Scotland’s latest two day training camp.

Turning to the matches against Argentina (Nov 12), Samoa (Nov 20) and New Zealand (Nov 26) forwards coach Graham said: “I think we have to be exciting. You have to be excited to play for your country. You have to want to play for your country and enjoy what you are doing and that’s certainly been reflected in training.

“We’re not going to hide from it (the challenge). We are not going to skirt around whatever they (the opposition) are going to throw at us. We’re going to have a go and bring back the passion of playing for Scotland,” he declared.

Backs’ attack coach Sean Lineen expanded on Graham’s theme of the importance of enjoyment. “We want players to enjoy coming to training – to come to train with a smile on their face, not doing it as a chore.”

As far as approach to back play Lineen is encouraged by the guidelines laid down by head coach Frank Hadden. “I think Frank has created an environment where he does not want the backs to take a back seat. He wants them to be right up there performing,” he said.

Defence coach Alan Tait spoke of the importance of keeping defence structures simple – a message his charges at the Border Reivers certainly seem to have profited from during the opening Celtic League matches.

“I’ve always said that you are better being a better defender than a better tackler and that means understanding what you do in defence and I think we’ve got that point across to the pro-teams,” he explained.

Meanwhile lineout defence coach Shade Munro hailed the professionalism within the playing squad – citing players such as hookers Scott Lawson and Ross Ford as examples – and joined the general upbeat mood as the assistant coaches urged fans to buy their tickets for the matches and give the team their support.

Tickets can be bought online at www.scottishrugby.org or by phoning the credit card hotline on 0131 346 5100.

This article was posted on 11-Oct-2005, 12:50 by Hugh Barrow.