Six Nations: Steadman given notice as ruthless Robinson seeks to strengthen team

SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson is to shake up his coaching team as he steps up his bid to improve the national side, with a 27-13 loss in Wales yesterday taking the head coach’s record to ten defeats in 12 Six Nations matches.

Robinson watched Scotland perform well for long spells in the Millennium Stadium but fall to a fourth familiar Test loss in a row. Again, the Scots dominated the first half of the game, but a failure to cross the white line and apply the finishing touch left the door open for a comeback.

And again a mistake under pressure handed Scotland’s opponents the initiative at the start of the second half and the Welsh capitalised with three quick tries which underlined the difference between the sides’ respective strike-forces.

Greig Laidlaw, starting his first Test match, and at stand-off, did claim Scotland’s first try in five internationals, but it was of little consolation.

Wales now head to Twickenham hunting a Triple Crown, with Warren Gatland having underlined his favourite status for the role of British and Irish Lions head coach.

But the Scotland coach insisted afterwards that his squad are on the right track and that victories will come. It will not be with the current coaching team, however, as he confirmed the news revealed by Scotland on Sunday yesterday that he is releasing his defence coach, Graham Steadman, when his current contract ends in May.

“Graham is seeing out his contract,” he said. “He hasn’t been [offered a new one]. I don’t think it’s right for me to go on about why here. I will speak at a later stage about that.”

It is understood that Steadman has been given the required notice that his contract will not be renewed because Robinson has his eyes on someone else to fulfil the defence role. He refused to comment when asked whether he was considering changing his other assistant, attack coach Gregor Townsend, but that seems unlikely.

Mark Dodson, who took over as SRU chief executive last year, told The Scotsman at the turn of the year that Robinson’s position would not be under pressure even if Scotland suffered another poor tournament, insisting that as the new man at the helm he was determined to give the head coach time to build towards the 2015 World Cup, which is the length of time Robinson is contracted to the SRU.

However, Robinson has moved to bring in Australian coach Scott Johnson, though he will not join up at Murrayfield until after his current commitments with the Ospreys end this summer.

Johnson has an attack background, but Robinson has spoken often of his desire to mentor and develop Townsend as a future international coach. With Scotland’s attack patently more incisive and line-breaks now common in every game – a clear improvement on pre-Robinson times – the fact that players continue to cough up chances within sight of the try-line indicates that the key issue is one that players rather than coaches can do most to influence.

Robinson and his players were frustrated long after last night’s final whistle, but the coach and his skipper, Ross Ford, insisted that now is not the time to tear up the game-plan and return to the drawing board.

“It was a physical game, and a very good game of rugby,” said Robinson, “but it [defeat] was down to us not being able to keep our composure when we’re on the Welsh line just before half-time, when we should score points, but don’t, and then just after half-time we miss the kick-off and we drop off a tackle and Wales take their chance well.

“I’m really proud of the way our team played, the endeavour and attitude they’ve shown, but there was an error made and we’ve been punished for it.

“We have a decent side. We went toe-to-toe with Wales, who are a good side, and both sides were feeling it because they went at each other, but it hinges on small moments and [the period] just after half-time was crucial for us.

“We will analyse the game and show the guys the amount of good rugby that was played. This is about winning and losing but the way we are trying to play is, in my belief, the way that we’ll start winning.”

Ford added: “Everybody is feeling the same way. There is so much hard work that goes into it that to come away with nothing is very disappointing.

“There is still belief in the squad that we are there, we are creating chances, with a lot of opportunities again today, but it’s time that the hard work was melded with a bit of clear thinking and staying composed under pressure. Everybody in the squad knows that and there is just real disappointment at the moment.

“We knew it was going to be a physical game and knew we had to match that, and we did, but it’s like everything before … that real composure under pressure.

“The players are [deflated] and rightly so, but we wake up tomorrow with new challenges ahead. We will give this game a look-over, but then we put it to bed. The belief will come from within the squad. Everything is generated there and that’s where it has to come from. But it is still there.”