LONDON: Australian Scott Johnson has been appointed Scotland head coach on a temporary basis for the Six Nations and next year’s tour of South Africa, Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) announced yesterday.
Johnson had been working as an assistant coach to Andy Robinson, who resigned last month in the wake of a 21-15 loss to Tonga after three and a half years in charge.
“Scott has a wealth of experience of international rugby, which was instrumental in his appointment earlier this year as our senior assistant coach,” said SRU chief executive Mark Dodson yesterday.
“He has coached with Australia, Wales and the USA and knows what it is to prepare teams to win on the international battleground.
“Scott knows our players and coaches well and is determined to hit the ground running with a successful RBS 6 Nations Championship.”
Dodson also confirmed that the SRU will continue to seek a long-term successor to Robinson.
Johnson described the appointment as “an honour” and pledged to do his best to get the most of the players.
The loss to Tonga on November 25 was Scotland’s 10th defeat in their last 13 Tests and saw them slump to 12th in the International Rugby Board (IRB) global ranking.
Johnson, who was once caretaker coach of Wales, was appointed as an assistant coach as part of an overhaul that followed Scotland’s dismal performance at this year’s Six Nations, in which they lost all five games.
The 50-year-old played a part in the successful tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa, in June this year before losses to New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga in November.
Scotland open their Six Nations campaign against England at Twickenham on February 2.
French rugby chief confident about European future
PARIS: Paul Goze, the president of the France’s domestic rugby union leagues, said yesterday that he had no concerns about the future of European competitions, despite talks on a new format having stalled.
“In the negotiations for the European Cups, there are always difficult moments and barriers,” the National Rugby League (LNR) boss said in an interview.
“However everybody in European rugby, the Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English, Italians and us (French) need the European Cups.
“We cannot forsee that these barriers will continue.
“The negotiations will be difficult as always but I am not worried about the long-term outcome,” Goze said.
“All parties will be able to agree before the deadline to ensure that after 2014 the competition will continue to be one of rugby’s forces.
“We have taken ideas forward and the positions are on the table. In all negotiations there can be small alterations that can unblock the situation.”
French and English teams are pushing for a system that includes between 20 to 24 clubs with a qualifying system that relates to the respective league standings (top six qualify).
But teams from the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales could be hit most if the new deal goes ahead while the French also want to adjust the European calendar and finish the campaign by the end of April in order for their teams to be able to concentrate on the final phase of their premier domestic competition the Top 14.
The next round of meetings are set for February 6, 2013, officials confirmed yesterday.
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