SRU : Scotland are on track despite run of losses

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson has said that he believes Scotland are making progress even if they are facing a wooden spoon decider against Italy after four losses.

Either Andy Robinson’s Scots or Italy will end up bottom of the heap depending on the outcome of their encounter in Rome on Saturday.

But Dodson has identified some positives following Saturday’s 32-14 loss against Ireland in Dublin, including the emergence of youngsters such as Lee Jones and Stuart Hogg, and an improvement in the style of play.

Dodson told the Press Association: “We have a performance review at the end of every tournament, this one will be no different.”

“We have got to put all the information into the basket, not just the points on the board.

“Clearly we will be going hell for leather for a win in Italy, but when you look at the players we have brought through this year, the style of play we have been exhibiting, all of that will go into the mix and we’ll talk to Andy about it at the end of the tournament.

“But as far as we’re concerned we are still very, very optimistic about what we can achieve here.”

Scotland’s losing streak since the World Cup now stands at six.

However, Dodson said. “When you look at the kind of quality of rugby we’re playing, look at the kind of people we’re bringing through, this is good news for the future.”

“We’re on a journey here, this is not going to happen in a day.”