Robinson expected to be named Scotland coach

THE new Scotland rugby head coach will be unveiled today at a midday press conference at Murrayfield.

Former England head coach Andy Robinson is hotly tipped to be confirmed as Frank Hadden's successor, having been the bookies' favourite for the job since it became vacant two months ago.

The Scottish Rugby Union were keen to have someone in place before the A team took part in the IRB Nations Cup next week, with Robinson already leading the team for their trip to Romania.

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The Edinburgh head coach, 45, was one of a number of candidates interviewed by a five-man SRU panel, which included former Scotland and Lions stars Andy Irvine, Andy Nicol and Gordon Bulloch as well as SRU chief executive Gordon McKie and chairman Alan Munro.

McKie revealed there were more than 30 applications from around the world for the role, which was eventually whittled down to a shortlist of three or four.

Reports claimed South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White and former Australia boss Eddie Jones had applied for the role, though it is unclear whether this was the case.

Robinson and Mike Brewer were the only two confirmed applicants, though Brewer later withdrew from the race and quit his post as Scotland forwards coach.

Robinson, who led Bath to the Heineken Cup in 1998, took his time before deciding to put his name forward.

Indeed, he left it right until the April 20 deadline before applying.

Asked a few days before that deadline if he was worried his procrastinating would be interpreted as him not wanting the job badly enough, he replied: "Not at all. I think I've shown that I'm passionate about Scottish rugby in the way that I've worked here at Edinburgh and coached the (Scotland) A team.

"I've a real passion for the players here."

Robinson also insisted the fact an Englishman might not be accepted by Scotland fans would not deter him, and neither would his disastrous tenure as England boss.

He was forwards coach during the 2003 World Cup success but after succeeding Sir Clive Woodward in the top job the following year, he managed to win just nine of his 22 Tests.

A record-equalling run of seven straight defeats eventually led to his resignation in November 2006 and he was out of the game for almost a year before Edinburgh came calling.

In the last two seasons, he has twice led the club to their highest finishes in the Magners League – fourth in 2008 and second this year.