Andy Robinson: Quits as Scotland boss
Andy Robinson has resigned as Scotland coach following Saturday's shock 21-15 loss to Tonga at Pittodrie.
He had been under contract until after the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Robinson released a statement on Sunday morning which said: "It's been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I'd like to thank the fans, players, coaches and staff for all their support over the years.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the players and the coaches in the last few years.
"I believe I have left the team in a better position than when I took over and have great confidence in the players and the coaches for the future.
"I am very disappointed by our recent results but I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team."
Scotland have lost 10 of their last 13 matches, including elimination from the World Cup at the group phase for the first time.
The Tonga defeat was the 19th in Robinson's 35 matches in charge and comes at the end of a calendar year which began with the Six Nations wooden spoon.
Robinson's most recent wins were on the June tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa, and his era ends following a 51-22 loss to New Zealand, a 21-10 reverse to South Africa and the Tonga debacle which leaves Scotland in 12th in the provisional IRB world rankings.
Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Mark Dodson hinted Robinson would have been pushed if he had not jumped.
"Following the sequence of recent results during the autumn Tests a change in head coach is required to take the team forward and build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015," said Dodson.
"I have passed on to Andy Scottish Rugby's thanks for his hard work and commitment during his term as national coach.
"Andy has overseen some fine results as Scotland head coach since he was appointed in June 2009 but the recent defeats have been very disappointing.
"Andy is an outstanding leader and a fine coach and we wish him well.
"I'd like to thank our fans for their great support during the autumn Tests and look forward to welcoming them to Murrayfield for the home games against Italy, Ireland and Wales in the 2013 Six Nations."
The search for Robinson's successor will begin immediately, with assistant coach Scott Johnson a contender.
Former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett may also consider the role worth the challenge.
Comments
new_j4a says...
Lets make Scotland a province of France (if they'd have them and the economic burden that goes with this under performing wasteland)? The Scottish "national team" could compete with at least a glimmer of hope in the top14. And bimbo, who is trying desperately to breed with a French reject (imagine how pug ugly she must be to have to settle for our intellectually challenged Scot), could finally belong to something, anything, worthwhile.....not sure what the French attitude to his touching relationships with small boys would be
Posted 07:31 27th November 2012
porridge_time says...
agt7...
Was not actually being condescending. I actually thought that Scotland played reasonably well against NZ and SA. The point I was making is that if the SRU had followed down the same route as the IRFU then we could have had a pro side in North, South, East and West of the country. In the early years we spent too much time arguing over the way forward. Ireland have had a great success from using their provinces. New Zealand created franchises in each of their five top regions and had great success.
Scotland in my opinion and I don't think I'm alone here missed the boat in the early days of professionalism and are constantly playing catch up. Remember there are more people living in Aberdeen than their are in Tonga.
In my opinion Robinson has really brought the squad a decent distance in his time there, Scotland given their paltry player base certainly punch above their weight, but because we keep losing the media reports a different story.
It would not surprise me if this squad went on to do well in next years six nations....but I still think that the SRU and certain quarters of Scottish rugby got it wrong in the early days of pro rugby.
Posted 19:00 26th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ new_j4a - they've just imported Heathcote, so it's already started..!
Posted 17:23 26th November 2012
atg77 says...
porridge_time please don't be so condescending, Scotland more than deserves its place in European rugby. One shocking loss and it all comes out... I wonder what people like you were saying when we beat Australia in the summer or South Africa two years ago? Even in the recent losses to NZ and South Africa that Scotland is more than capable of competing with the best team in the world... we were still in the game against NZ in the 50th minute... and might even have beaten the boks... had we made the correct decision and gone for goal. You might want to note that almost half of the team is young with less than 10 caps... you cant expect them to be world beaters already. Yes the Tonga game was a shambles... but not Scotland anywhere near their best. This is a team in transition. When the likes of Heathcote, Scott, Visser Hogg, Denton and others like Bennet and Maitland settle into their international roles things will be very different indeed.
Posted 15:24 26th November 2012
porridge_time says...
Scotland are very fortunate to be involved in Europe's elite competitions otherwise Scottish Rugby would likely disappear.
Yes and if the English PL clubs get their way Scottish rugby will be marginalised from that also. Since the advent of the professional era the SRU have made fundamental errors... what they should have done was follow the IRFU's lead and nipped the club v country argument in the bud. Creating four pro teams from the old provinces.
Posted 09:52 26th November 2012
celticspirit says...
BokAvenger: Simple answer to your question what is wrong with Scottish Rugby: Rugby was taken off the school curriculum some 15-20 years ago and now we are reaping the "rewards". If only a small percentage get introduced to the sport at a young age, then a) the late-comers don't develop the instincts well enough, like the New Zealanders do oto the extreme, and Boks and French, too. And b) there will not be as many falling in love with the game full stop. I mean, what 10 year-old whose father or other does not introduce him to the game will ask for it himself - unless he has seen a glimpse of it in PE classes...
It is that and that Scotland is sunstantially a football country. (Not that they are any better at that, mind.) Sad but true...
Posted 09:07 26th November 2012
darthbok says...
bet you there are alot of kiwi`s and saffas with scottish heritage -- snaffle some of these and they will be flying -- take a page out of englands book -- promote and naturalise foreigners --always a good stop-gap measure
Posted 08:14 26th November 2012
Ripzy007 says...
This is always the case, the coach always gets the blame. In may be 60% right , but the teams and players have to perform too. The Scots like the Wallabies suck at the moment, and the coach's can't do anything about it.
Posted 02:26 26th November 2012
atg77 says...
Robbos a great coach but his selections terrible, refusing to pick inform players instead of his favourites. If you think Scotland's got no decent players look at Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg, Matt Scott... Sean Maitland is coming through and Heathcote might be the business too... in the pack we've got Denton, Gray, Rennie for starters... a team like Scotland should be alot higher than 12th in the world. As for a new coach... surely Wayne Smith would be the perfect choice... for many the brains behind NZs WC win with plenty international experience... former flyhalf with a very astute understanding of the game. Has Scottish heritage and an interest in Scottish rugby as well. If not, Scott Johnson Nick Mallet would be a decent choice.
Posted 23:37 25th November 2012
jmanngod says...
the simple sad fact is that Scottish rugby is behind Italy, Argentina and Samoa and Tonga (although the last 2 are really built on the strength of NZ rugby as that is where the vast majority of their players are from). Scotland are very fortunate to be involved in Europe's elite competitions otherwise Scottish Rugby would likely disappear.
Posted 22:55 25th November 2012
sonsofsamoa says...
@daveyboyo
Well I believe that Scotland have some great players.. Richie Gray and Tim Visser as you've mentioned.. Jim Hamilton is old but still a true grit player.. Max Evans when put in space is awesome as well as Joe Ansbro.. But comparing them to the other nations is pretty unfair.. (Samoa get this a lot, compared on paper but results tell a different story) A lot of people underrate this team.. But I think it's just a lack of quality competition (only 2 clubs to choose from).. Which prevents other players from developing this is made even worse when bringing in other imports stunting the development of other up and coming players.. (Its okay for England and France because countless teams can take these import players incl. their second and third divisions)
Posted 21:37 25th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Big shame for Scotland. They had improved a lot, and would have been better if backs stopped dropping the ball. Nothing wrong with their pack as shown against Boks and NZ. Ultimately,some players have let Robinson and their country down.
Posted 20:34 25th November 2012
boksmashoffice says...
Take Meyer and the SA coaching team please.
Posted 20:27 25th November 2012
paddy91317 says...
The quality of players arent good enough and havnt been for a long time think of the last 2 loins tours even when clive woodward brought 50 players there was only something like a 5 scottish players.... they really need to start doing what ireland are doing with there provences academys all english, irish academys are producing top players as are franch and welsh academys. we all know the problems ireland and wales are having at international level are down to either bad coaching selections or players moving for more money but quality players are there.... scotland have very little quality youth coming through or none that i can see atleast
Posted 19:46 25th November 2012
Michtymauler says...
Nick Mallet? I don't think "Timmy" Mallet would take that role!!
Posted 19:22 25th November 2012
Bambo says...
Great shame. Scotland appeared to progress nicely for a time under Robinson but things certainly stalled recently.
Scotland, with only 2 pro teams and a dwindling amateur set up, look fated to continue this up then down pattern for years to come. Some great players but no depth across the team.
Posted 19:10 25th November 2012
scot_rsa says...
BokAvenger asks a good question. What is wrong is the whole system in Scotland. Pro teams have never worked and the game is associated with posh schoolboys. We used to churn out real talent from the hotbed that is the Borders but the SRU have alienated them. And we do have good young players but don't back them. They end up being ignored because they don't have s school tie or are coached to run into the opposition instead of into space. We need to breed a hunger for the Scotland shirt again. Looking back on the advent of professionalism here I'm starting to think Jim Telfer was right.
Posted 19:06 25th November 2012
celticspirit says...
Not really his fault, I reckon. Many close results that could have - should have gone the other way, like England twice and Argentina at the WC, if it hadnt been for Wyne the Shame Barnes... Coach cant control knock-ons on clear 2-on-1 overlaps.
Still, a win-loss ratio of under 50% is unacceptable for a Scotland team, as is being 12th in the ranking, whatever some SH-people who know nothing about Scottish Rugby tradition may say.
Since I am currently unavailable myself, I guess SCO could do much worse than Scott Johnson or Mallett. In fact the latter would be a blessing potentially.
A big thank you to Robinson from North of the border. Really a good man for an Englishman. ;)
Now we have to move on. Italy next in the 6Nat...
Posted 18:02 25th November 2012
Storm says...
Noble man with a pig's ear of an assignment coaching Scotland.
Posted 18:01 25th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
It's really not good for rugby that Scotland have sunk this low. I honestly don't understand it. It's not like they lack size. Plenty of huge Scottish lads. They just can't seem to pull it together. Any Scots out there able to tell us what's wrong with Scottish rugby? I for one would be interested to know.
Posted 17:27 25th November 2012