Now Robinson eyes Pumas
Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:14
No sooner had Scotland beaten Ireland 23-20 to end the Six Nations with a much needed victory, then coach Andy Robinson was already "focusing" on his side's two-Test tour of Argentina in June.
Scotland's first win of the Six Nations was just reward for a side who'd only really been outplayed by Grand Slam champions France.
But subsequently they squandered a 10-point lead with four minutes left to lose 24-31 in Wales, failed to take their chances in going down 12-16 away to Italy and then suffered the frustration of a 15-15 draw against arch-rivals England at Murrayfield.
Former England coach Robinson could have been forgiven for thinking about the Six Nations he might have had in his first Championship season in charge of Scotland.
And he might equally wanted to luxuriate in a victory, secured by Australian-born flyhalf Dan Parks's nerveless penalty with under two minutes left, that promises to be a milestone for his side because it removed several millstones at once.
Not since the days of the old Five Nations, back in 1998, had Scotland last won in Dublin and, excluding victories over Italy, this was their first away success in the tournament since they beat Wales 27-22 in Cardiff in 2002.
Saturday's result also ended Scotland's run of eight straight Championship defeats by Ireland.
But as a player Robinson was a member of a Bath side that dominated the English game in the 1980s and 90s before becoming deputy to Clive Woodward, who coached England to World Cup glory in 2003.
Neither of those teams achieved the success they did by looking back and Robinson, who in November guided Scotland to a dramatic 9-8 win over Australia, said: "It's about the next challenge and my focus now is on Argentina, straight away. That's what I'm looking forward to, taking on Argentina away from home.
"It's very easy for everyone to look back and go 'what could have been', that's not what professional sport is about."
Scotland's victory at a stroke denied Ireland the Triple Crown, ended last season's Grand Slam champions' slim hopes of a successful title defence and prevented their hosts from enjoying a winning farewell to Croke Park.
It was built around an aggressive forward display summed up by No 8 Johnnie Beattie's barnstorming first half try.
That gave man-of-the-match Parks, who also distributed smartly and kicked well out of hand, the platform to boot 18 points, made up of five penalties and a superbly taken drop-goal on the stroke of half-time, that left Scotland 14-7 in front at the break.
"Winning breeds confidence," added Robinson, whose team repeatedly disrupted Ireland's much-vaunted line-out.
"While we've had a number of setbacks, the guys have always had real self-belief...These guys have not given up at any stage in the tournament."
Parks, who on Saturday won his third man-of-the-match award in four fixtures this Six Nations, to go with those he collected against Wales and Italy, said: "I think we've deserved a lot more than we've got in this championship.
"We came here full-blooded and we're absolutely delighted."
Scotland have lost eight of their 10 Tests against Argentina, most recently going down 9-6 to the Pumas at Murrayfield in November.
Robinson, though, is starting to rid Scotland of unwanted records.
AFP
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