Andy Robinson has ended his three-and-a-half year reign as Scotland’s head coach after a disappointing run of results. He was clearly stung by Scotland’s 21-15 defeat by Tonga on Saturday when he warned there would be “consequences”.
bbc
In a statement issued on Sunday, Robinson spoke of the “privilege” of being in the Murrayfield role and thanked supporters, players and staff.
Scottish Rugby will begin their search for Robinson’s replacement immediately.
The defeat by Tonga in Aberdeen followed two other autumn Test defeats, by New Zealand and South Africa at Murrayfield, no disgrace considering that pair’s lofty ranking in world rugby.
But Scotland needed two autumn Test wins from three to secure a top-eight seeding for the World Cup in 2015.
Instead, they have slipped to 10th, two places ahead of the Tongans.
The team have lost 10 of their last 13 matches, including being knocked out of the World Cup in New Zealand last year at the group stage for the first time.
A 2012 Six Nations wooden spoon followed, losing all five games, but Robinson and the team were boosted by a trio of wins in Australia, Fiji and Samoa in the summer tour.
However, the home defeat by the team from the South Pacific was the final straw for Robinson, who had been in charge of the national team since June 2009 and whose contract was due to run until the World Cup in three years’ time.
After the match he spent 10 minutes in discussion at the side of the Pittodrie pitch with Mark Dodson, Scottish Rugby’s chief executive.
A grim-faced Robinson told the BBC after the game: “I’m very angry – there will be consequences because of this performance. It reflects on me.
“I’ve got to look at myself, as has everybody involved.”
Having mulled things over on Saturday night, Robinson issued a statement on Sunday morning.
It read: “It’s been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I’d like to thanks 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.”
Dodson issued a statement saying “a change in head coach is required to take the team forward and build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015”.
And he added: “I have passed onto 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.”
ANDY ROBINSON’S SCOTLAND RECORD
- Overall
- P35 W15 D1 L19
- Six Nations
- P15 W2 D1 L12
- World Cup
- P4 W2 D0 L2
This was Andy Robinson at Post match conference after the game against Tonga, clearly not a very happy man you can hear it in what he says and tone of voice and also see from his body language, a very frank honest assesment from the former coach:
A real rugby man!
Sad to see him go, but it is refreshing to see a man willing to take responsibility for his team’s results.
@ Loosehead:
@ Lion4ever:
Yes agree with you guys there, felt quite strangely down about this yesterday as although there have been folk calling for Mr Robinson’s head for some time it was a pity as in spite of the results he seemed to me to be a good bloke to have around the squad. Didn’t always agree with his selections and often felt he wasn’t really sure of who his first team should be but he did try get them to play a more expansive passing game and got some really good results at times, just too often the players just didn’t seem able to implement what he was trying to get them to do by making silly mistakes, dropped catches poor passes misted tackles… Also think that there should have been collective responsibility for the poor performance which was the last straw, how many of those players who fared so badly will play again for Scotland and what about the management outside the team who arranged the schedule and in my mind seemed to treat the trip to Aberdeen as more of a ‘PR’ exercise, dont’t get me wrong it was nice to read about players going to schools etc but they also had a test match to prepare for and that should have been the most important thing, more especially once so many of the regulars had been ommited from the squad – the one’s left should have been out on the training ground more rather than be public relations officers.
There were lots of results in the last year alone that could have and should have but didn’t go Scotland’s way so at times the margins at the top are really small but the harsh reality of the sporting world is that results count and not nearly won ones so hopefully the new man can build on where Robinson has got the squad and turn more of those narrow defeats into wins. The guys that seem to know a bit more about Robinson’s abilities rate him quite highly as a coach so am sure he will get a good job again, would maybe even suggest we could use him at Loftus, but for now think after all the years of commuting away from his family (in England) to Scotland is maybe a good time for him just to chill and relax with them all a bit more. Certainly wish him Mr Robinson all the best for the future.
You also have to take your hats off to a man who had a contract to coach until after World Cup 2015 to walk of his own accord and not just hang around and wait to be sacked with a big pay out. Although I guess none of us are sure of the detail of compensation if any is due following the resignation as SRU say they are not going to comment any further on this at the moment.
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