Hadden has reason to be cheerful
PA Sport
October 21, 2007

Frank Hadden's verdict, which he has stated on at least two occasions, was that he was "absolutely gutted" to be back in Scotland for finals week.

If that a rather excessive reaction from Scotland's head coach, then bear in mind it was so much not the quarter-final exit which pained Scotland at the Rugby World Cup, but the identity of their conquerors - surprise bronze-medallists Argentina.

When Scotland flew out to St Etienne at the start of September it was common knowledge that a place in the last eight was their target.

And it was by no means a formality, with the pool stage match against Italy, the team who came, saw and conquered so emphatically at Murrayfield during the RBS 6 Nations Championship, destined to be pivotal.

So it proved, but Scotland emerged 18-16 winners in St Etienne and their mission was accomplished.

Anything else would be a bonus, so went the theory. Scotland were a team ranked 10th in the world, who had just beaten a side eighth in the IRB world rankings, to reach the latter stages of a tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France and England.

Yet the fact it was Argentina - a team who come the final reckoning have beaten hosts France twice and Ireland - who eliminated Hadden's men remains a sore point.

Ahead of the Argentina clash, Hadden raised the bar for Scotland.

``We are incredibly proud to be one of only five countries to make the quarter-finals of every World Cup,'' he said.

``But this week is different, this week it's about finding our place in the history books.''

After the 19-13 defeat in Paris, a match in which his side only began to play flowing rugby in the closing 20 minutes, Hadden magnanimously praised the Pumas.

``I'd like to congratulate Argentina,'' he said. ``They played a very good game and had a stranglehold until the final quarter that was difficult to do anything about.''

He added: ``We just weren't clinical enough to do what we wanted to for our long-suffering fans, which was take them to a World Cup semi-final.''

The fact of the emerging rugby nations cannot be ignored, but Scotland are desperate to keep pace with the likes of Argentina, whose performances in France suggest they should be recognised as premier league rather than a `new world' rugby nation.

A day after the defeat, on October 8 as they left France, Hadden said: ``We're bitterly disappointed and absolutely gutted to be out of the World Cup at this stage. We had a real opportunity.''

Circumstances - the defeat of purported champions-elect New Zealand to France for one - raised Scotland's hopes, but the fact they were knocked down so quickly should hardly be cause for alarm.

Scotland undoubtedly made progress at the World Cup, and in the months beforehand when Hadden brought his squad together for a valuable training camp,
but they would hardly have been worthy semi-finalists.

Reaching the last four could have disguised the certainty that Scotland - who, remember, finished rock bottom in the Six Nations - are a team who must look to progress one sure-footed step at a time.

Under the likeable Hadden, who remains the right man for the job, Scotland are a promising work in progress.

``You always wondered if they would be able to cope with the intensity of the World Cup at their age,'' Hadden mused as the Scots packed their bags, ``and the answer was `not quite'.

``But that doesn't mean to say I don't think this side has a future - because I believe in the players.''

``We've done enough to convince the fans that we have a team that can perform.''

He has since reiterated his disappointment in a radio interview, but Hadden should consider this: what if David Bortolussi had nailed the late penalty in St Etienne on September 29?

By no means the toughest kick of the tournament, the Italian went the wrong side of the posts and Scotland could breathe easily again.

Had it dissected the posts, Scotland would have been goners before the quarters, and that would have been justification for any negativism.

Bortolussi could have given Scotland genuine cause to be ``absolutely gutted'' and the fact he failed should give Hadden plenty of satisfaction. Scotland's fortunes might just be on the turn, the Six Nations might just be one to savour.

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