RODDY Grant is confident that he will in time develop into an excellent coach, but he is wary of predicting great things for the Edinburgh squad that he will take to the Melrose Sevens today.
A lot is expected of professional sides who compete at the original sevens tournament, and a look at the list of winners explains why, with Glasgow Warriors and Saracens between them having won the coveted title for the past four years. But for Grant, who has been coaching both Edinburgh and London Scottish since injury called a halt to his playing career with the capital team at the end of last year, there is one obvious problem: the fact that his men, as full-time 15s players, have had little or no chance to practise together for Melrose.
They will at least be able to put in some last-minute preparation today, having been given a first-round bye and drawn in the last tie of the second round, but Grant knows they will have to learn very quickly if they are to challenge for the title. “There will be expectation because we are professionals,” he accepted. “Though out of all the teams we’ll actually have had the least time to prepare.
“How many sessions have we had? None is the short answer. For players who don't play much sevens there needs to be a bit of preparation and structure.
“I as a coach am blessed, because they're good rugby players. But sevens is such a different game from 15s - the ball and the pitch and the fact that you pass the ball are about the only things the same.”
This is Grant’s first time at the Greenyards as a coach, but he has played there before, and was once even a member of a winning squad - albeit technically. “I was called into the Free State team [in 2007] when they lost a couple of injured players and they went on to win it,” he recalled. “But I didn't get on so I didn't get a medal.
“I played twice for Gala and they didn't go too well. I think back to back five-six years ago. I think we maybe won a game one year and lost in the first round the next.”
The 29-year-old turned to full-time coaching earlier than planned, but, having also coached during his playing days, he has taken to his new job quickly, and is confident of going far. “I've always coached, with Merchiston and [Edinburgh] Accies, so it's great to do it in a professional environment. I feel I will be a world-class coach. It's been interesting doing the analysis stuff, which as a player I thought might be quite tedious for a coach, but it's actually one of my favourite parts of the job.”
Edinburgh are representing the Scottish pro ranks this year instead of the Warriors, while the foreign guests are Belgium and the French development side Seventise. BBC 2 Scotland will televise the event from 2pm.
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