Former Glasgow Warriors boss Lineen, a member of the Scotland Grand Slam winning side of 1990, is one of the favourites to take over from Robinson who quit after Saturday’s humiliating defeat to Tonga.
Daily Record
Sean Lineen last night emerged as the favourite to succeed Andy Robinson as Scotland rugby coach.
Robinson quit his post yesterday in the wake of Scotland’s disastrous defeat to Tonga on Saturday – a result rated the worst in our nation’s oval-ball history.
Although kilted Kiwi Lineen is the clear-cut choice of the punters and bookies to take the reins, Murrayfield chiefs could hand the job to Robinson’s No.2 Scott Johnson on a caretaker basis in the build-up to the Six Nations campaign.
Robinson’s abrupt exit after three-and-a-half years in charge sparked a wave of speculation over who will get the job. Other front-runners include Wayne Smith and Todd Blackadder.
While Lineen would be the No.1 choice of the fans, Johnson could be given the nod by SRU chief executive Mark Dodson – at least in the short term.
Despite failing to inspire his side to a single win in the UK for more than a year, Robinson yesterday insisted he had made Scotland better.
Robinson, who was part of England’s backroom staff when they won the World Cup in 2003, said: “I believe I’ve left the team in a better position than when I took over. And I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team.
“It’s been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I’d like to thank the fans, players, coaches and staff for all their support over the years.”
Cammy Mather wants Sean Lineen and Carl Hogg to be dream team that will get Scotland back to winning ways. The former flanker reckons Lineen will instill a club spirit in the national side and insists Hogg could be this generations Jim Telfer.
Former World Cup star Cammy Mather is backing dynamic duo Sean Lineen and Carl Hogg to lead Scotland to glory again.
The ex-Test flanker Mather wants former Glasgow coach Lineen and Gloucester pack specialist Hogg to replace Andy Robinson.
Mather said: “Sean is the man. From my own experience, he would try to build up a club-type spirit in the Scotland set-up.
“There’s no doubt the players have been trying their hardest under Robinson but they seemed to lack a group work ethic and I think Sean could make that happen.
“I’d definitely also try to get Hogg from Gloucester. He is the closest thing we have nowadays to a Jim Telfer figure in terms of raw passion.”
Former Scotland back-row star John Beattie has accused Scotland players of letting down Robinson, who quit after the weekend 21-15 defeat to Tonga.
Beattie said: “I have to say in Andy Robinson’s defence that some of that rubbish on Saturday wasn’t his fault – it was players buying dummies, players going high into contact, players seemingly unable to break a defence and players missing kicks.
“What’s more, they will have learned to do this under other coaches, probably since they were five years old. He was let down by his players on Scottish soil.” ENDS
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Sean Lineen is being backed to take over as Scotland head coach by former stand-off Craig Chalmers, following Andy Robinson’s resignation.
Chalmers and New Zealand-born Lineen played together in the Five Nations Grand Slam success of 1990.
“Sean has shown his loyalty to Scotland since moving over,” Chalmers told BBC Scotland. “He’d be top of my list.”
However, ex-winger Kenny Logan thinks a lack of international coaching experience may count against Lineen.
Logan believes attack coach Scott Johnson should be appointed interim head coach, with Scottish Rugby then making an approach to former South Africa coaches Nick Mallett or Jake White.
But Melrose coach Chalmers, who won 60 caps, wants to see someone with a Scottish connection at the helm.
And Lineen is currently coaching the Scotland Under-20s in tandem with a head of player acquisition role after six years in charge of Glasgow Warriors.
“Sean knows the game and he’s been totally committed to Scotland,” explained Chalmers.
Scotland have slipped to 12th in the world rankings ahead of the 2015 World Cup draw on 3 December and were knocked out at the group stage for the first time in last year’s tournament in New Zealand.
Logan, who won 70 caps between 1992 and 2003, said it was crucial to make the right appointment to take the national side forward.
“We shouldn’t panic because we’re three years away from the World Cup,” he said.
“I would go for Scott Johnson as interim coach to get us through the Six Nations and then go for a big name.
“Sean’s not had any international experience and that’s a risk.”
Former Scotland coach Jim Telfer does not want to see Johnson given the top job, even though the Australian has international coaching experience with his homeland, Wales and the United States.
“I wouldn’t appoint Scott Johnson,” the 72-year-old told BBC Scotland. “He has had too many jobs as assistant and he’s moved around a bit.
“He has still to prove himself as far as I’m concerned.”
Telfer then suggested George Graham as a possible outside candidate
The Gala head coach spent three years working with Scotland’s forwards until May 2008 and managed Italian side Petrarca for a season.
“George Graham is a very honest coach and he has improved Gala enormously,” said Telfer.
“I would prefer to get a permanent head coach in as quickly as possible in view of the fact that we have a relatively easy Six Nations, with three home games against the weakest teams [Italy, Ireland and Wales].”
Robinson ended his three-and-a-half reign after Saturday’s defeat by Tonga, his 10th loss in 13 Tests.
In his resignation statement, the Englishman said: “I am very disappointed by our recent results but I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team.
“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.”
Scottish Rugby said it would begin their search for Robinson’s replacement immediately.
Chief executive Mark 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”.