Kidney wary of Scotland’s insider knowledge

TRYING to gain an edge, that’s what rugby is about at the top level, and that’s why — according to Ireland coach Declan Kidney — Scotland have a slight but perhaps crucial advantage going in to today’s Six-Nations match in Murrayfield.

Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman form a critical part of Frank Hadden’s coaching team with Scotland, but both are coming from recent spells in Ireland. Former All-Black captain ‘Bruiser’ Brewer spent three years as Leinster forwards coach, while former Great Britain rugby league international Steadman spent time with Munster before signing on with Eddie O’Sullivan as Ireland’s defence coach.

“It’s one of those variables we understand but can’t do anything about,” said Kidney in Edinburgh yesterday. “We have no control over it, it’s the nature of the profession. They have been great servants to Irish rugby, they have a lot of information, they know what makes us tick. We can do nothing about it, it’s outside of our control. We’ll just have to be sharp.