Scotland boss Johnston only thinking positive

There is much to be said for the power of positive thinking and so upbeat is Scott Johnson in his approach to solving Scottish rugby’s problems that 15 minutes in his company would convince anyone of his side’s potential for success.

Scotland boss Johnston only thinking positive

Scotland arrive in Dublin this weekend having achieved their best championship finish in seven years 12 months ago, when they took third place behind Wales and runners-up England. It was not exactly a triumph, more an issue of being less bad than those that limped home behind them, Italy, Ireland and France. Yet with a little more consistency in their performance, their Australian head coach believes they could have the rugby world at their feet.

Johnson has just this championship left to make it happen with Clermont Auvergne boss Vern Cotter set to take over the reins this summer. The Aussie from Western Sydney will stay on by Cotter’s side through to the World Cup in 2015 and having succeeded Andy Robinson as head coach before the 2013 Six Nations he intends to hand over a Scotland side markedly improved on the outfit he inherited. Following on from the wooden spoon Robinson managed in 2012 with Murrayfield wins over Italy and Ireland 12 months ago was clearly an improvement on what went before but after an indifferent November which saw victory over Japan followed by defeats to South Africa and Australia, Johnson was left with the feeling that any further climb along the upward curve would need to be accompanied by some consistency over 80 minutes.

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