It's over Frank

By Colin Paterson on Mar 20, 09 11:18 AM

WITH any luck, it will be the end of an era for Scottish rugby at Twickenham tomorrow.

No matter how Scotland perform in their Calcutta Cup match with England, head coach Frank Hadden should be in charge for the last time.

Once again, this Six Nations Championship campaign has been a failure and, for me, change is urgently required.

I wrote in my newspaper column before the tournament got underway of the need for Hadden to give us genuine hope for the future. But it has not happened.

From day one, the Scots have looked a team lacking in direction. Of course, a loss to Wales should be no disgrace; they are the reigning Grand Slam holders, after all.

But it was the manner of the defeat at Murrayfield which despaired me. A lack of desire and determination; physically outfought in the scrum and inept in attack. At no point were we ever going to win that match.

Hadden's team selection for that game? What more can be said when the best goal kicker in the business (Chris Paterson) and the Magners League's top try scorer (Thom Evans) are left out of the starting line-up?

To be fair, we were on the wrong end of some poor refereeing in the defeat to France and a professional display was enough to win against a disappointing Italian team.

However, the reverse at home to Ireland showed that we are in need of an overhaul. Hadden has been in control for four years and we don't look anything like a title-winning side.

What makes me even more dejected is that the 2009 crown could be won by another coach in his Six Nations debut season. Declan Kidney is on the brink of leading the Irish to glory just as Warren Gatland did for the Welsh last year.

Therefore, enough's enough. There are no more excuses left and we can't allow a win over England tomorrow - as unlikely as that prospect is - to cloud our judgement any more.

Frank's for the memories Hadden, you've given it your best shot.

But we need to move on - and in my view, the next coach is, rather convenientally, working in Edinburgh.

Andy Robinson, Scotland needs you.