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Wednesday, 4th November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

Hadden looks up Sole as he seeks a Six Nations foothold

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Published Date: 21 January 2009
By BILL LOTHIAN
AS another RBS Six Nations Championship looms, Scotland coach Frank Hadden has revealed he is taking on board advice from this country's most successful rugby captain of modern times.
Discussions have taken place between Hadden and David Sole, who within the space of 18 months at the start of the 1990s, led the team to both a Grand Slam and a World Cup semi-final place.

The background to the talks, he said, was Sole's role as a
captaincy mentor and it is increasingly the case that eager learner Hadden welcomes feedback from rugby Scots of status as further illustrated by Gregor Townsend's recent appointment as specialist backs coach.

Referring to Sole's input, Hadden said: "I was speaking to David Sole the other day and asked him what the most important factor in gaining (all-important] confidence was."

The message from Sole was along the lines that there is no substitute for success.

"Everybody knows you need confidence to win in top level sport," added Hadden. "You can get this from being selected, from coming up through the ranks – even from operating in a positive environment.

"But ask Chris Hoy or Andy Murray and they would tell you nothing beats winning. That is what David Sole said."

The observation came as Hadden draws encouragement from not only recent victories by Edinburgh and Glasgow but also the form shown by key individuals, so much so that he is convinced that, unusually for Scotland, the need to cover up a weakness or two on the big stage is less pronounced.

"Slowly but surely we have got ourselves into a position where we have raised levels of expectations," he explained. "We go into every match – whatever the eventual outcome – believing we can win.

"The rest is partly in the lap of the gods but one of the reasons we believe we can win any match is that we now can do all the things that need to be done well enough. We believe we can scrum well; we believe our line-out will be efficient and we'll be tough at contact.

"Defensively our systems are good and the changes made to our attack have made us a bit more dangerous. There are also good kicking skills. And, while we have got confidence in all these areas, maybe Scotland has lacked that commodity in the past. We'll need a bit of luck but it is definitely a case of fewer weaknesses needing to be covered," he said.

Part of that, revealed Hadden after announcing a 33-strong squad, is increased competition for places.

Acknowledging rivalry between Edinburgh back three pair Hugo Southwell and Chris Paterson as an example along with the Phil Godman-Dan Parks duel at stand off, Hadden went on: "I think it is a real tribute to Hugo's competitive instinct that a few weeks ago he wasn't starting for Edinburgh but is now winning man-of-the-match awards."

These have occurred during the absence of Paterson who, now fit again, remains vital to the coach's planning.

"I have just been given stats that show Chris remains No.1 goal-kicker in the Northern Hemisphere with Phil Godman at No.5."

Further highlighting the competition that exists, Hadden said: "To make the squad Geoff Cross has overcome Gavin Kerr which is no mean feat and a player as good as Andy Henderson can't get into the Glasgow back line at the moment.

"It's becoming tougher to get into certain areas of the Edinburgh and Glasgow teams."

Such competition has not occurred by chance, Hadden maintained.

"We operate a matrix listing our players by position," he revealed.

"For example, because we knew there would be a shortage of hookers when Gordon Bulloch retired, a decision was made to move Ross Ford from flanker. These decisions are paying off."

While seeking to control as many influences as possible there is one aspect where Hadden has to resort to crossing his fingers.

"The All Blacks, a fantastic side who take their chances better than anyone, would nevertheless consider it unusual to have scored three times against us this season from the bounce of the ball.

"Similarly France last season scored twice (at Murrayfield] from dramatically bouncing ball."

The first to acknowledge that good teams make their own luck, Hadden is nevertheless shrewd enough to know that mantra only exists up to a point.

"Maybe we are due a wee break ..." he said.

Time will tell but Hadden appears to have covered all his bases with a further boost hoped for when Jason White has a pin removed from an injured finger in order to be declared fit for rugby's annual showpiece.

Backs

Mike Blair (c)(Edinburgh)
Ben Cairns (Edinburgh)
Chris Cusiter (Perpignan)
Simon Danielli (Ulster)
Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
Thom Evans (Glasgow)
Max Evans (Glasgow)
Phil Godman (Edinburgh)
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow)
Sean Lamont (Northampton)
Rory Lawson (Gloucester)
Graeme Morrison (Glasgow)
Dan Parks (Glasgow)
Chris Paterson (Edinburgh)
Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)
Simon Webster (Edinburgh)

Forwards

John Barclay (Glasgow)
Kelly Brown (Glasgow)
Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester)
Ross Ford (Edinburgh)
Scott Gray (Northampton)
Dougie Hall (Glasgow)
Craig Hamilton (Edinburgh)
Jim Hamilton (Edinburgh)
Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
Allister Hogg (Edinburgh)
Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
Alastair Kellock (Glasgow)
Euan Murray (Northampton)
Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester)
Simon Taylor (Stade Francais)
Jason White (Sale Sharks)

Fixtures:

Saturday, February 7: England v Italy (3pm); Ireland v France (5pm).
Sunday, February 8: SCOTLAND v Wales (3pm)

Saturday, February 14: France v SCOTLAND (3pm); Wales v England (5.30pm).
Sunday, February 15: Italy v Ireland (3.30pm)

Friday, February 27: France v Wales (8pm).
Saturday, February 28: SCOTLAND v Italy (3pm); Ireland v England (5.30pm)

Saturday, March 14: Italy v Wales (3pm); SCOTLAND v Ireland (5pm).
Sunday, March 15: England v France (3pm)

Saturday, March 21: Italy v France (1.15pm); England v SCOTLAND (3.30pm); Wales v Ireland (5.30pm)



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 21 January 2009 10:18 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: SRU
 
1

Michelle Fifer,

21/01/2009 12:53:39
Einstein is still safe.
2

A Jambo come rain or shine,

21/01/2009 12:56:34
Herein lies the problem in my eyes - Hadden has to ask what the most important thing for confidence is. He's never played rugby to a seriously high level and i think that hinders him in his ability to coach at the highest level.
3

Old Cartha Boy,

21/01/2009 13:30:19
We operate a matrix listing our players by position," he revealed.

"For example, because we knew there would be a shortage of hookers when Gordon Bulloch retired, a decision was made to move Ross Ford from flanker. These decisions are paying off."

What about the No 10 position then? where was the Hadden Matrix that day?

4

LeJudgeRules,

Edinburgh 21/01/2009 13:45:44
#3 Well said.

I Would drop Haden like a hot tattie!

Let's get Robinson and Lineen on board full time. Also bring back Alan Tait and bring JJ in to assist Robinson with the forwards.
5

Mike D W,

21/01/2009 13:53:36
#3 Typical Scottish trait of turning a positive (Ross Ford's conversion from flanker to possible Lions hooker) into a negative (why don't we have a decent stand off)

Has to be said that turning a flanker into a hooker is much easier than turning say a fullback/centre into a stand off. Always felt that great stand offs are born that way, not created. Shame is that none seem to have been born 20 to 30 years ago.

Looking at the 6 Nations squad, this is the first time that I have not been able to pick 6 or so makeweights who have no chance of being picked. Genuine competition for most places. This has to be a good thing.
6

LeJudgeRules,

Ediburgh 21/01/2009 14:02:14
#5 Paterson was an excellent stand-off and possibly could still be. The poor lad has been wasted, moved from pillar to post to suit Hadden.

To be fair, Godman has now started to improve somewhat. However, until recently Paterson was the only potential 10 that had a decent half-break on him to get the backs/forwards going.
7

J.A.,

21/01/2009 15:25:04
Come on, a bit of realism please.

You can blame Hadden for many things but it is difficult to blame him for our lack of stand offs. Yes he was partly responsible for moving Paterson to the wing and fullback at Edinburgh but Paterson had the choice to move to the Reivers where he would have had a run at 10.
Scotland have fewer people playing rugby than all the rest of the top nation so on the law of averages we are not going to produce natural 10’s at the same rate as other nations. We have been lucky in the past to have the likes of Rutherford and Townsend but there have been some fairly ordinary 10’s in between.
#5
“Has to be said that turning a flanker into a hooker is much easier than turning say a fullback/centre into a stand off.” do you have the proof? Ford has become an excellent hooker because he has developed many of the main attributes required for that position and not because it was at all easy. He still struggles with throwing in but is improving all the time.
8

Richard in exile,

21/01/2009 16:10:31
My understanding with hookers is that they occasionally have to throw the ball in at a lineout (not always straight), hook the ball back at a scrum and then wander the pitch with their hands on their hips blowing their cheeks, therefore a move from flank should be somewhat easier?
Of course I speak from the perspective of the back row myself...
9

J.A.,

21/01/2009 16:20:07
I’ve seen some stand offs who do very little more than boot the ball back at the opposition, that’s if thieve managed to catch it in the first place. But of course, I think we are talking about a slightly higher standard in international rugby.

I suppose what every front row forward will argue that anybody can play any other position but you must be a front row specialist or the game is reduced to the farce of uncontested scrums.
10

W.Robertson,

21/01/2009 16:50:54
How many people does Hadden need to help him do his job?!!!

Along with the other Scotland assistant coaches he's now got Sole, Townsend, Hodge, Robinson, Lineen.... At this point, looks like all the decisions and coaching are made by everyone else. Don't see why we need him?!!
11

John south of Soutra,

21/01/2009 16:56:47
I'm in agreement with JA about some of the standoffs we've had in the past - Richard Breakey, Brian Gossman, reasonable club players but nowhere near international class. After John Rutherford retired we didn't have anyone near that class until Craig Chalmers came along,then Gregor Townsend, but how many quality 10s have we had in the last 30 years
12

Mycroft Holmes,

Edinburgh 21/01/2009 17:39:40
It shouldn't be forgotten in the quest for a world-class no.10 that he doen't necessarily have to be the goal kicker e.g. John Eales! For that matter, neither is there anything in the rule book that says that the hooker has to throw the ball in at lineouts!
13

THE DREADED SILVER CROC,

Chateau Croc 21/01/2009 22:56:38
Fact is FH is a relatively unchallenging lightweight and therefore gets on OK at SRU, in particular the mighty Mmurrayfield Mmmandarins, Mmmmunro & MmmmmmcKie.....

What a sad bunch of died-in-the-wool losers!

Imagine, a man of Hadden's seniority and supposed experience coming up with feedback like winning is the key to confidence and therefore success. Sounds like typically trenchant (not!) twaddle from the Winning Scotland numpties again........
14

THE DREADED SILVER CROC,

Mont Revard bistro now, up by the old ski station 21/01/2009 23:06:26
Unbelievable article - my eyes are still smarting from the pain of reading it, Mon Dieu!
15

J.A.,

22/01/2009 08:40:26
#12
I know where you are coming from but as far as the hooker position and throwing in is concerned but it is not as simple as you may think. If say a prop is throwing in but having a stinker or gets injured, you would probably be forced to make two substitutions, one to replace the prop probably with one who can’t throw in and another to the replace the hooker who I presume couldn’t throw in or the prop wouldn’t have been throwing in the first place.......
As far as being a goal kicker and playing 10 is concerned it never has been a prerequisite. Scotland has a long tradition of goal kickers who were not 10’s. Peter Brown, Andy Irvine, Peter Dods, Gavin Hastings and Chris Paterson to name but a few.
16

lochfainthenobledragon,

22/01/2009 10:00:00
Apparently Hadden has now invited former international Bill Cuthbertson to join the team under the guise of 'beard coach'.Hadden is quoted as saying 'this is a fantastic opportunity for the younger guys just growing their first whiskers,Ispoke to Bill the other day and he said lots of the players in his day had a beard so it makes sense to bring him in at this stage as the margin between winning and losing is so narrow'.
17

Mycroft Holmes,

Edinburgh 22/01/2009 10:31:19
#15
To be honest, I've absolutely no idea what point I was making anyway!?
I think I'm still completely overawed at the quote from the genius that is Frank Haddock.
18

MT,

22/01/2009 10:39:44
I agree that Patterson was wasted. I also think however he should have put his foot down and said to hadden, "I want to play at 10 or Im leaving Edinburgh"
As for Sole; Legend...get him involved, anyway you can!
19

Mike D W,

22/01/2009 10:53:01
#7 regarding converting from back row to hooker compared to three quarter line to stand off.

I did not mean to imply that it had been easy for Ross Ford to convert from flanker to hooker. He has achieved what he has through hard work. What I was trying to get across was that it is a relatively easier conversion than turning a good back into a stand off.

The skills required by a hooker are rather technical (hooking in the scrum, throwing in at the lineout) compared to the rather more innate vision required of a stand off of reading a game and dictating the play. By the way, I am a ex-prop and in no way sticking up for the Jessicas behind the scrum.

Therefore, I am of the belief that you can teach a back row the techniques of front row much easier than you can, for example, take a good centre and turn them into a stand off.

Looking at my own club, we have 5 or 6 players who have converted from back row to front row, even one who went from scrum half to hooker. It is a fairly proven route in most clubs.

I apologise if you thought my comment was a slight on Ross Ford. Are you his dad?

 

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