Williams excited by Scottish youngsters

Scotland coach Matt Williams insists the current crop of young players north of the border has led him to feel optimistic about the long-term future of the national side.

After an indifferent World Cup in Australia last year which subsequently saw five key players announce their retirement, Williams was brought in to replace out-going coach Ian McGeechan.

The former Leinster coach is now embarking on a root and branch revamp of the game in Scotland, with the emphasis on both the national side and the up and coming players.

However, despite his optimism, Williams warned that with so many youngsters set to make their debuts in the near future, Scotland may have to go backwards before they go forward.

He said: “It’s fantastic when you bring the new boys through because they just want to play for their country.

“Ally Hogg and Ross Ford and those boys are outstanding rugby players and they are putting pressure on the other guys.

“We’re also looking at players like Graeme Morrison, Tom Philip, Nikki Walker and Gareth Morton, who were in last year’s under-21s, and there are players in this year’s under-21s who will eventually come through to the next World Cup.

“We’re fortunate with this group because Brendan Laney and Tom Smith are probably the only two in terms of age who might be doubtful for the next World Cup.

“But like any young group, it won’t just occur, it will take time and we have to allow them to fail.

“They will fail and we have to allow that to happen, we can’t discard them, we have to re-educate them and bring them forward.

“We’re not like Chelsea where we just buy players in, we’ve got to make what we’ve got better.”

“If we were talking about England or the All Blacks, you wouldn’t suggest there was an 18-month period of rebuilding there.

“They are a long way into a five-year process where they have very solid structures.

“It’s the same with the Welsh. Only a few years ago they were in dire straits and now we can see their national team playing some sensational rugby, you can see they’ve turned the corner.

“But with this particular group it will take time to do.”

Williams claimed that, at last, Scottish Rugby is now serious about changing the fortunes of the national side.

He added: “The coaches didn’t have the resources to develop the players in the past.

“But now we have a national focus with the full-time staff and I’m being provided with a very good staff and a very good management team.

“We’ve got a great facility at Stirling University and we have a great group of guys who are working very hard.

“And I’ve got the support of the chairman, the board and the director of rugby so you’ve got everybody pulling in the right direction.”