Scotland assistant coach Jason O'Halloran plays down Six Nations chances
Monday 30 January 2017 16:22, UK
Scotland assistant coach Jason O'Halloran believes it may take another two years before the current squad hits its peak.
Vern Cotter's side kick-off their Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland on Saturday with expectations once again soaring.
The performances of both Glasgow and Edinburgh in Europe this season have raised hopes the Scots can finally make their mark after over a decade and more of Championship sorrow.
In recent days former internationalists Jim Telfer, Andy Nicol and Alan Tait have claimed Cotter's squad are the closest thing the country has had to the side which won the tournament back in 1999, when the tournament consisted of just five teams.
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But attack coach O'Halloran has urged caution after admitting Scotland are far from the finished article.
"This team will ultimately be at its best in a couple of year's time when we get more guys up around that 50-cap mark and grow that leadership culture," he said.
"Those are flattering comments [from Telfer, Nicol and Tait] but it doesn't give us any points when we start against Ireland.
"What it does is give us in terms of combinations is real confidence, which is crucial for the trust element you need in these big games.
O'Halloran joined Cotter's back-room staff ahead of the 2015 World Cup but will depart the national set-up when Cotter steps down this summer.
Scottish Rugby has decided Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend offers better hope for the future, a move that has left the current incumbent disappointed.
While Cotter is heading to Montpellier, O'Halloran will head in the opposite direction to Townsend, joining Dave Rennie's new Scotstoun coaching team.
But he believes Cotter can justifiably claim to be leaving behind a team stronger than the one he inherited.
"I'd like to think the guys have improved quite a lot in our time in charge," he added. "They can definitely still be better.
"There are aspects of their catch and pass under pressure which are going to have to be good against Ireland, so that's one aspect we continue to stress. But our work rate off the ball and out attacking mindset is a lot better.
"The excitement and intensity the guys brought was something that was crucial to our autumn Tests.
"The boys just want to go out and express themselves. If we can have that again for this campaign we won't die wondering."
