McCormack ready to build on Scotland’s youthful base
Scotland coach Steve McCormack is optimistic about his team’s future, despite the Bravehearts slumping to the wooden spoon in the European Championship this year.
Injury and withdrawals meant that McCormack was compelled to use a very young side, with very little Super League experience, for much of the tournament.
He is now sure that those youngsters can go on and become the Scottish legends of the future in the years to come, though.
“I’ve got mixed emotions. It was an outstanding effort but we’re disappointed because if we’d started the first half like we started the second, we’d have won the game,” he said.
“The same thing happened against Wales and Ireland – we paid the price for poor starts and lost three games we could have won.
“But I’m so proud of how the young lads coped with the challenge. We had another three debuts and more than half the squad were young kids who have come through the Scotland Rugby League pathway.
“That stands us in good stead for the next ten years. I think we’ll look back on this week and say that was tough but it was actually a great thing for Scottish rugby league because we’ve given those boys a chance and they’ve taken it.”
FRANCE 36
Morgan Escare, Jordan Sigismeau, Tony Gigot, Benjamin Jullien, Olivier Arnaud, Stanislas Robin, Remy Marginet, Julien Bousquet, John Boudebza, Mickael Simon, Kevin Larroyer, Ugo Perez, Jason Baitieri
Subs: William Barthau, Jean Phillipe Baile, Gadwin Springer, Florent Rouanet
Tries: Arnaud (3), Gigot (15, 38), Larroyer (22), Escaré (26), Robin (30), Perez (60)
Goals: Marginet 4/7
SCOTLAND 18
David Scott, Shane Toal, Harvey Burnett, Richard Harris, Alex Walker, Danny Addy, Oscar Thomas, Joe McLean, Liam Hood, Ben Kavanagh, Sonny Esselmont, Dale Ferguson, Sam Brooks
Subs: Scott Plumridge, Gavin Grant, Lewis Clarke, Finlay Hutchinson
Tries: Toal (9), Scott (66), Hood (70)
Goals: Thomas 3/3
Man of the match: Tony Gigot
Half time: 28-6
Referee: Gareth Hewer (England)
Attendance: 5,737