It takes a lot to get an Australian to sing the praises of a New Zealander, but there was something of a trans-Tasman love-in yesterday when Scott Johnson delivered his assessment of Vern Cotter, the man who is due to succeed him as Scotland head coach.
"He's a good, tough, abrasive bloke," said Johnson, hosting a Scotland training session at Blairgowrie. "He's a pretty successful coach. He's been round the traps. He has the qualities we like and probably need."
Lest Johnson be accused of fraternising with the enemy when he next passes through immigration control at Sydney airport, it ought to be said that almost everyone who has dealt with Cotter will say something similar. Indeed, Nathan Hines, another of the kilted kangaroos, was happy to confirm his admiration of the 51-year-old who, for the moment, is still his club coach at Clermont Auvergne.
"He is uncompromising and has a great work ethic," said Hines. "He puts pressure on you. Even if you're comfortable and going well, he always tries to make you ask questions of yourself to find a little bit extra. Like he does with us, I think he will bring something of that hard edge and that work ethic. The Scotland boys have that already, but he'll add to it.
"He is a motivator and a technician. He's always provoking you, always posing questions, always thinking, always searching for something that will give you an advantage. He's not scared to try new things."
Cotter was not scared to up sticks from New Zealand a quarter-century ago to try the new thing that was playing in France. A decent No.8, he spent the best part of 10 years playing for low-key French sides.
Most of his time was spent in the Basque region of the Pyrenees, a backdrop that gave him an appreciation of French rugby passions and the residue of a distinctive 'twang' in his accent. Latterly, he moved into coaching, experience that led to him becoming head coach at Bay of Plenty – his home province – when he returned to New Zealand in 1999.
Bay of Plenty won the old National Provincial Championship's second division title in his first year in charge. In 2004, he became forwards coach for the Crusaders, helping them to Super Rugby titles in 2005 and 2006. At which point, the call came through from Clermont.
The club, previously known as Montferrand, were well funded through their connection to the Michelin tyre company, but were serial underachievers, losing out in the French club championship title race seven times. They would finish as runners-up another three times with Cotter in charge, but the breakthrough came in 2010 when they won the title at the 11th time of asking.
That victory established Clermont – and Cotter – as serious players. Over the next few seasons they enhanced their reputations, although the past 10 days have taken off some of the polish as Clermont lost to Toulon in the final of the Heineken Cup, then suffered a defeat at the hands of Castres in the semi-final of the Top 14. Those results caused some to question Cotter's methods – and the SRU would surely have preferred him to arrive on a wave of triumphs – but his hard-nosed pragmatism is unlikely to be diminished by the setbacks.
He is, says a leading French rugby writer, seriously tough. His recreation of choice is hunting, and he makes a point of leading training in shorts, even when the mercury drops – as it often does in the Clermont Ferrand winter – far below zero.
His transformation of Clermont is due, in large part, to his refusal to accept interference from Michelin, whose management had long meddled in the running of the club. Whether the SRU will be so keen if he starts to display that single-minded streak at Murrayfield may be open to question. SRU insiders say that the union still harbours hopes of getting Cotter to Scotland sooner rather than later. What's that line about being careful what you wish for?
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