Hadden's plans hit a bump in his second year

THIS was the championship where Frank Hadden's tenure as Scotland coach hit a solid, new reality.

Was the debutant anointed with wins over France and England in 2006, his first season as Scotland's master planner? Was it a fluke? The 2007 RBS Six Nations Championship did not answer either question, but it created a few others for the enthusiastic coach. The 'second-season syndrome' epithet employed when players struggle to impress after their introductory year applies as often to coaches, and Hadden's style of 2006 was never going to outfox so many a year on.

It had not been too complicated; in fact, the very essence of Hadden's approach in his first year as Scotland coach was to simplify the game. It was to wrap up the convoluted game-plans of Matt Williams, his predecessor, and invite the players to help him in tossing them into a giant bucket. He even had Yehuda Shinar, Sir Clive Woodward's and the Israeli army's mind guru, on board briefly to help improve the mindset.

The first year was all about restoring belief and confidence and instilling a fresh enjoyment in being Scotland rugby players. Hadden's commendable passion for a quick, expansive style of play, where every player is encouraged to get his hands on the ball, to improve his passing and confidence in possession, is like mana to most players at that level. And it caught opponents on the hop.

Come 2007, however, and it did not build quite as Hadden had hoped. The enterprise, endeavour and excitement did ensure great moments, but, crucially, precision was lacking and with each mistake in the opening match at Twickenham, and each of England's four tries – including one thrown to the returning Jonny Wilkinson by the match officials for good measure – came a horrible fear that Scotland had become easy to pick off. Humbled at Murrayfield a year earlier England romped to a 42-20 win in their first game under Brian Ashton and the errors set a tone for Scotland.

Wales offered salvation and restored belief, Scotland opening with great running rugby and rocking the Welsh all over Murrayfield. Though it came down to the goal-kicking of Chris Paterson, the skipper slotting seven from seven kicks at goal to show his match-winning ability, only a television match official denied Allan Jacobsen after the prop had touched down a great drive and Paterson was held inches short.

Enthused, the squad and coaches then worked on a game-plan to blow away the cobwebs against Italy; a high-risk venture which would sweep the cheer back through Murrayfield. And, to use a modern turn of phrase, they crashed and burned. Phil Godman tried to chip the Italians' rush defence after just 19 seconds, Mauro Bergamasco charged down and scored; Chris Cusiter passed to Rob Dewey, but Andrea Scanavacca got there first and raced to the posts for try No 2; Cusiter tried a looping, wide pass to kick-start Scotland's attack and this time Kaine Robertson gratefully collected and ran in for a third score.

Only six minutes had elapsed and Scotland were 21-0 down. There was not a bit of cheer in Murrayfield, just the solemnity appropriate to witnessing a team dying in front of one's eyes. Paterson converted a penalty, but then shunned numerous kicks at goal and, the Scots having hauled back to 24-17 with tries from Rob Dewey and Paterson – Scotland's championship stand-outs – and the skipper's faultless kicking, the bizarre game appeared poised for a finale to match its beginning.

But the Azzurri were not to let a historic first win at Murrayfield slip from their grasp, two Scanavacca penalties easing control back their way and a try from Alessandro Troncon sealing a memorable 37-17 win.

Hadden's game-plan was in tatters. He strived to rebuild it by insisting the match was a unique fluke; that such early errors were not the result of trying to play too quickly, too risky, too early, but simple individual execution. The shocking start stemmed, in reality, from a combination of both.

Ireland then arrived at Murrayfield hugely confident of taking a step closer to the Six Nations trophy, but left clutching a nervous 19-18 victory, their tail between their legs and ridiculous claims than Nathan Hines had tried to murder Ronan O'Gara by choking him to death on the field at the finish. Many might like to see the ever-cocky Irishman silenced from time to time, but no-one was quite so calculating and Eddie O'Sullivan's ham-fisted attempt to deflect attention from the cracks in his Irish side was transparent.

Showing tremendous spirit and teamwork, Scotland had salvaged some pride after the Italian debacle, but, finally, had to face a resurgent France in Paris with just one win behind them. The French had to win by 24 points to pip Ireland to the championship, having edged their match in Dublin – the first at Croke Park – but lost to England and watched the Irish score 51 points earlier on finale day in Rome.

In an incredible denouement, where four nations could technically have won, the French triumphed, ironically with the help of Irish referee Simon McDowell, the television match official, who saw a try for Elvis Vermeulen where few others could in the final seconds to permit France a 46-19 victory.

For Scotland, a new tactic of using Nikki Walker and Andy Henderson in a big, direct back division enjoyed limited success. Having scored just four tries in the previous four games, Scotland did manage three in Paris, but the six against and securing of the wooden spoon dimmed that achievement somewhat.

From fast, running rugby to a tight, confrontational style with Dan Parks spraying kicks into all corners of the field, Hadden's tactics had undergone a volte-face. He was happy, however, to have asked more questions of his players and uncovered different attacking weapons. What was abundantly clear when March closed was that his honeymoon was over and whichever weapons Hadden added to his 'tool-box', Paterson's goal-kicking aside, great sharpening was required in the summer months if they were to prove useful.