Defence coach Taylor searching for X Factor

Senior Sports Writer

Saturday 9 March 2013

There are no recording contracts to be handed out but there could yet be garlands to be worn on the Champs Elysees as Scotland tap into the ethos of the TV talent show The X Factor and the Tour de France in seeking to set new standards.

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Kevin Ferrie

No individual could claim more credit for the win over Ireland last time out than Matt Taylor, and the defence coach revealed he has introduced into the camp a new reward system for individual excellence which seems to be reaping collective benefits.

"I have brought lots of the systems and ways we measure players from my time at Queensland Reds," the Australian said. "One of the aspects we have really tried to work hard on has been the work around the post-tackle. The players know they cannot just turn up and make tackles, they have to produce some sort of effect on opposition ball. They have to have the ability to get back on their feet really quickly and get back into the defensive line or slow the ball down."We give players awards for that. We measure it. One of the things we have brought in during this series, usually on the Monday, is the X-Factor award, which Sean Maitland won at the weekend for his ability to get back when the line was broken."Another is the PPP award – pressure, power, presence – around the post tackle. We give them a jersey with that on it so we just promote that defence culture and that ability around the ball."Like stage cycling tour stage winners, the players are entitled to wear said jerseys at training until the next game. "The X Factor award is a special type of award, whether it is for a try-saving tackle or getting back and helping our your mates, things like that," Taylor went on."The PPP award is more a measurement of post-tackle, promoting the idea that if you do something well defensively you will get a pat on the back in front of other people. Players work hard for that. It is just making the group work hard."With Sean, I just said we can't afford to have this many line breaks against Wales, have a look at your scramble. I gave the team a bit of a rap but at the same time I showed Sean getting back and knocking their wing into touch. We usually show them a few video clips from games. I showed Kelly [Brown] getting a turnover and he got an award fro that. We made quite a deal about it right at the start of the presentation."While entitled to take pride in the way the players have performed in his specialist area Taylor admitted, however, that they cannot become too dependent on defensive resilience. "You are not going to win every week by giving teams the territory and possession we did [against Ireland] so we have to balance the ledger a bit more," he acknowledged. "You can win games on less possession but we have to balance the ledger in that regard."

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Defence coach Taylor searching for X Factor

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