RBS Six Nations: Sat 20th Mar Croke Park, Dublin
Last updated: 31st October 2008
Hadden: waiting game
Scotland's foreign-based players look set to play for their clubs this weekend, despite the pleas of head coach Frank Hadden.
Hadden, in dialogue with the clubs involved for months over the issue, has repeatedly insisted his fellow head coaches sympathise with his predicament in trying to prepare a squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.
But his fears that when push came to shove they would put their own interests ahead of those of Scotland look like being realised.
Of the 10 players recalled on Wednesday night from Hadden's Spanish training camp, all but one were named either in their clubs' starting line-ups or squads.
Hadden can now only hope his attempts at diplomacy lead to those players not completing a full 80 minutes, having already said that those playing on Sunday were at particular risk of being overlooked for the Test against New Zealand on November 8.
The three players that will affect are Ospreys' Nikki Walker and Gloucester's Alasdair Strokosch and Alasdair Dickinson.
The first two will start their clubs' EDF Energy Cup games, with the latter named as a replacement.
Of those playing on Friday and Saturday, Scott Gray, Sean Lamont and Euan Murray were all in the Northampton starting line-up for their cup game, while Simon Taylor was in the Stade Francais squad for their Top 14 match.
But the two exiles Hadden was hoping would play in order to get some much-needed game time looked set for a run-out.
Jason White was set to start for Sale on Friday evening, while Nathan Hines was named in the Perpignan squad for their match.
Only White's Sharks team-mate, Rory Lamont, was omitted altogether.
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Bulls 19-18 Hurricanes - Reaction
Western Force 10-14 Waratahs - Reaction
Blues 39-34 Brumbies - Reaction
Crusaders 46-19 Lions - Reaction
Highlanders 16-30 Sharks - Reaction
Six Nations - England team
Views on Ashton
Lv= Cup - Gloucester
| Result |
|---|
| Scotland |
| Saturday 20th March |
| RBS Six Nations |
| RBS Six Nations |
| Ireland 20 - 23 Scotland |
| Saturday 13th March |
| RBS Six Nations |
| Scotland 15 - 15 England |
| Saturday 27th February |
| RBS Six Nations |
| Italy 16 - 12 Scotland |
| Saturday 13th February |
| RBS Six Nations |
| Wales 31 - 24 Scotland |
| Sunday 7th February |
| RBS Six Nations |
| Scotland 9 - 18 France |
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