Saturday’s opening RBS 6 Nations match against France in Paris looks like coming just too early for Johnnie Beattie, with assistant coach Graeme Steadman admitting there was “a question mark” about whether the No 8 is ready three weeks after his return from injury.
Steadman has been travelling the country watching Beattie play a series of comeback games for Glasgow, club side Ayr and Scotland A and hinted yesterday that the No 8, one of Scotland’s outstanding players last season until he took six months out for surgery to solve a recurring shoulder problem, will not be making a dramatic return in the Stade de France on Saturday.
“What has impressed me most is his attitude, it has been first class, and that’s what we want,” said the Scotland management team’s defensive specialist.
“But he’s still a little bit rusty. I’m sure he will play a part in the Six Nations, but whether or not he’s ready we’ll see tomorrow when the team is announced.
“He’s a quality rugby player, we all saw that last year. He’s a game-breaker, but it’s a race against time with Johnnie at the moment, I think.
“All 42 players I’ve worked with over the past 10 days want to be in that starting XV, but we’ve got to sit down as a management team and work out the best side.
“I have my own thoughts, and I’m a big fan of Johnnie Beattie.Question mark”Is he ready at this moment in time? There may be a question mark…or there may not,” he added with a smile.
Steadman is, however, relishing the expectation now on Scotland after recent victories over Ireland, Argentina, South Africa and Samoa and believes that the squad is ready to build.
“I think what we achieved last season, moving into the Six Nations this season, is consistency, with five wins from the last six games,” he said.
“Obviously there was the disappointment of the New Zealand loss, but the pleasing thing was the response we got the following week in the South Africa game.
“The level of expectation has been taken to a new height, but we’ve just got to focus first and foremost on the game against France, and then take momentum off the back of that.
“So it’s imperative that we get off to a good performance and off the back of that we get the win.”
Steadman credits head coach Andy Robinson with the turnaround in Scotland’s fortunes in the last 10 months.
“I’ve worked with a lot of quality coaches over the years and he’s up there with the best of them,” he continued.
“He gives the players a lot of belief, empowers them and trusts them to go out and perform to their best.
“With that, you get the players becoming stronger individually.Leadership”When I first joined Scotland, the leadership in both pro teams was maybe lacking, outside Al Kellock at Glasgow and Mike Blair and Chris Paterson at Edinburgh.
“We’ve now got John Barclay, Graeme Morrison, Chris Cusiter at Glasgow and at Edinburgh Ross Ford and several others have stepped up to the mark.
“Without question I hope Andy stays with Scotland. That’s the reason I’m here, because I’m a big fan of his.
“As part of my development I want to work with the best, and at the moment he’s the best coach in the Northern Hemisphere as far as I’m concerned.”
The one issue Steadman has had to address is the loss of one of his key on-field leaders in Morrison, who suffered a knee injury in the 1872 Cup match at Christmas and could miss the championship.
“It would be wrong to say he’s not a loss because he has been one of the most consistent defenders within the squad,” added the coach.
“The pleasing thing is that with Joe Ansbro, Alex Grove, Nick De Luca and Max Evans it means we have depth.
“A year ago I would have been more concerned. These guys are all fully aware of what we’re looking for and they’re champing at the bit to get the opportunity.”