Hadden eyes bright future
Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:59
Scotland coach Frank Hadden is hopeful that his team's away victory over Argentina will pave the way for a "new era" in Scottish rugby.
Fullback Chris Paterson celebrated becoming Scotland's most-capped player by scoring 16 points in his team's 26-14 win over the Pumas at the weekend.
The result, which squared the two-Test series at one-all, following the Pumas' 21-15 victory last weekend, also gave the Scots their first ever away win against Argentina - who were World Cup third-place finishers last year - and their first win over the Pumas in 18 years.
"You could see the frustration from the players after coming so close last week and it was a very controlled performance," Hadden told BBC Sport.
"I was getting fed up telling the press we had a good side here and the players were keen to prove it by delivering.
"I think we've set the tone for what's hopefully going to be a new era."
It was a first-ever win for Scotland in Argentina and the first triumph since the teams first met in 1990.
However, a last-minute try by Argentina denied Scotland the 15-point margin of victory required to secure an improved status for the next World Cup draw.
"It's obviously disappointing," said Hadden of the late try. "But if you'd offered me 26-14 before kick-off I'd have been happy to take it.
"We've had three weeks together which we never had during the Six Nations and that has given us the confidence and the belief to pull off this incredible achievement.
"And let's not forget how young this team is.
"We were the youngest team at the World Cup, we were the youngest team at the Six Nations and we brought an even younger team out here to face the third strongest team in world rugby.
"I think it's a great tribute to a lot of the work that's gone on in Scotland over recent years."
Paterson, who made his 88th international appearance and overtook Scott Murray's tally, was delighted with the team's display.
"It's a special victory for a number of reasons," he said. "It's pretty special to be the most-capped Scot, all the more special when you win.
"It's our first away win in Argentina against a top-three side in the world. But it's more than that. It's the fact there was so much pressure on us.
"We have to go on and prove that we don't have to be up against it to pull out a performance like that.
"We put in the same amount of effort last week but this time we were a bit smarter, a bit more clinical.
"It's the small things, it's the decision-making, it's the accuracy that makes the difference."
AFP
