Dodson keeps World Cup hopes high
Mark Dodson maintains lofty ambitions for Scotland despite a poor run of recent results
©Press Association
Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson maintains his ambition for Scotland to win the 2015 World Cup is perfectly reasonable.
He says he would be 'pilloried' if he set his sights on anything less than victory at the tournament, which will be held in England next September and October.
Dodson's comments come in the wake of a disastrous RBS 6 Nations campaign where Scotland only won one match - against Italy - and were heavily beaten by England and Wales.
"It's about how you interpret it. If you said 'Scotland are going to win the World Cup next year, now let's go to the bookies', well that is one view," he told Press Association Sport.
"But if you say it in terms of, as a nation, that is what we should aim to do, then of course that is what you should be saying. I want to be the best.
"If you are asked to gauge where you expect to be by the time of the World Cup and say you only want to get out of the group, you would be pilloried for showing a lack of ambition.
Scotland's 2015 World Cup campaign
23rd September: Scotland v Qualifier from Asia, Gloucester
27th September: Scotland v United States, Leeds
3rd October: Scotland v South Africa, Newcastle
10th October: Scotland v Samoa, Newcastle
"To be honest, we are caught in between the devil and the deep blue sea depending on what we say.
"What is a realistic aim? In the past we have got to the quarter-final stage pretty much every time. But we maintain we want to go as far as we can. We are in it to win it.
"We are 14 months from the tournament with 14 or 15 games to play. We don't know how this team will shape up. Just remember, Wales lost 11 games on the bounce before they won the 2005 Grand Slam."
Scotland have never won the 6 Nations since Italy's arrival in 2000 and have won 12 of their last 50 matches.
But while some suggest that Scotland are not good enough to play against Europe's best teams, Dodson has a much brighter outlook.
"Last year France finished bottom of the Six Nations and no-one asked them to step aside. We know where we are and where we have to go.
"We have now got a world-class coaching group as well as some great players coming through. We have got the likes of Alex Dunbar and Matt Scott at centre, a back three of Stuart Hogg, Tim Viser and Sean Maitland and in the pack, Jonny Gray coming along, his brother Richie already there.
"These are guys who can compete with anyone on their day."
