Hadden left in attendance limbo

Frank Hadden has admitted he has no idea whether his recent tour of foreign clubs will succeed in getting players released early for Scotland duty.

Frank Hadden has admitted he has no idea whether his recent tour of foreign clubs will succeed in getting players released early for Scotland duty.

Hadden is desperate to secure more preparation time with his squad, especially in the build-up to Test matches, as he believes it crucial to the nation's hopes of competing with the elite of the world game.

He recently visited clubs from Scotland's northern hemisphere rivals in a bridge-building exercise aimed at convincing them to release players two weeks before future internationals.

Unlike the Rugby Football Union, who pay Guinness Premiership teams to do just that, the Scottish Rugby Union are powerless to bend club bosses to their will.

Hadden appeared to be bracing himself for disappointment today by naming what he acknowledged was a “rather large” 50-man squad for Scotland's first training session ahead of November's autumn internationals.

As well as picking seven uncapped players, the party included ten from the Premiership, four from French clubs, and two each from Welsh and Irish regions.

While he can expect the remaining 32 from Edinburgh and Glasgow, fitness permitting, to show up at Murrayfield on Monday for training, Hadden can only cross his fingers about the others.

“I guess the first test of that will be on Monday to see who is going to be available to turn up and to see whether the English clubs are prepared to release the players,” he said.

“We're not all that sure at the moment exactly who is and who isn't going to be there.

“It's sometimes the case that we get assurances people are going to be there and then the situation changes – that's our experience.

“So we're very realistic about the situation.

“Obviously, we'd be delighted if everyone was there but we'll just have to wait and see.”

Hadden was at pains to emphasise the difference made by having two uninterrupted weeks with his squad prior to this year's summer tour, which saw Scotland record their first ever victory in Argentina.

“Even though we didn't have our best side, the fact that we had a fortnight's preparation prior to the first Test was really important to us,” he added.

“It was obvious that we were going to be able to play well following that quality of preparation.”

Hadden is keen to avoid sparking a club-versus-country conflict, claiming he can understand the position of his players' primary paymasters.

“The northern hemisphere season, the club season and the international season rub up against each other and there are clashes of interests throughout the season,” Hadden said.

“It may be nothing to do with the quality of the relationship [with the clubs].

“It may be whether the club can spare the player or not and how important he is to that particular week's preparation.”

Despite Hadden's fears about a low turnout, it would be wrong to use Monday's training session as an indicator of clubs' willingness to part with their players.

Such get-togethers are often viewed as unimportant by club bosses, who can be more co-operative when it comes to preparing for matches.

The real test will come when Scotland plan their first session ahead of the November 8 clash with New Zealand.

“We wouldn't have called it if we didn't think it was important,” he said, defending the timing of Monday's meeting.

“That's why it's there, and we spent a lot of time trying to work out what the best day would be.”

The session will also allow Hadden to introduce his players to their new forwards and defence coaches, Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman.

The vastly-experienced pair, appointed last month, were officially unveiled at Murrayfield on Tuesday.

As well as being employed by the senior set-up, the duo will work closely with Edinburgh and Glasgow to establish a continuity of coaching it is hoped will benefit the game as a whole in Scotland.

“I'm extremely confident that they will bring an enormous amount to the table for the national side and also to the two pro teams that they've been involved with, and probably throughout the organisation as well,” Hadden concluded.