Former Scotland and Lions prop Peter Wright has queried the Scottish Rugby Union decision to wait for new head Vern Cotter.
The New Zealander was on Monday named as the permanent successor to Andy Robinson, despite the Clermont Auvergne coach being unable to make the move for another 12 months because of his contract in France.
But Wright nonetheless believes Cotter can progress Scottish rugby after seeing him steer Clermont to this season’s Heineken Cup final, where they were narrowly defeated by Toulon.
He said: “It is going to be 18 months of an interim coach and I don’t think that’s right for an international team. I would have preferred a candidate that would have come in straight away.
“But the SRU have said they’ve got the man they wanted and I think he’s a guy who could take Scottish rugby on. It is just that year between now and then. That’ll be the interesting part.”
“I think Johnson will do a good job for the year before Cotter comes in, but he’s going to come in with a year to go before the World Cup. Is that enough time to prepare Scotland for the World Cup?
Recently-appointed director of rugby Scott Johnson will remain in the interim coach’s role he carried out in this year’s Six Nations.