Success in Argentina poses tough decision for SRU over Hadden

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quarter-final loss to Argentina, four defeats from five Six Nationsmatches and a disappointing first Test defeat in Rosario.

The whole picture brightened in Buenos Aires on Saturday, but wheredoes that leave the progress of the team? Does it prove, as FrankHadden believes, that they should have won the past four Testmatches and be sitting pretty in the world's top eight, or was itanother glorious one-off to rank alongside the Calcutta Cup wins ofthe past three years; a day when determination, spirit anddefensive organisation overcame tactical limitations?

Even Hadden felt that his outlook had become short-term as hechanged players, tactics and approach to uncover that much-neededwin, his philosophies being subsumed in the desperate need to win.It may be that modern international rugby, and the lack ofpreparation Hadden pointed to, renders any long-term or evenmid-term planning a waste of time, and yet there must be plans,goals and a focus for every team and coach.

And as much as we might instinctively wish to argue against it,there is a growing feeling that focus now revolves around the RugbyWorld Cup. More attainable silverware like Calcutta Cups, TripleCrowns and Grand Slams will continue to outshine the World Cup formost teams who do not make it to a final, but the global eventbeats ever-harder at the heart of the international game. This isdemonstrated by the talk inside and outside Murrayfield of the needto be ranked in the world's top eight by December to ensure abetter World Cup draw, more than two years from the tournament.

Hadden started out in 2005 to restore faith and belief inScotland's leading players, which he accomplished, and then buildmomentum to the 2007 World Cup. He suffered injury problems andchanged tack on style, opting for a more physical direct approach,in his second year, which kept the squad competitive and promising,but won fewer games