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Evans: Hadden has squad backing

Frank Hadden has been given the Scotland players' vote of confidence
Frank Hadden has been given the Scotland players' vote of confidence

The entire Scotland squad is fully behind head coach Frank Hadden, according to wing Thom Evans.

Hadden's future has been the focus of much debate during the RBS 6 Nations, with the 54-year-old reportedly told to deliver at least two victories to keep his job.

Defeats to Wales and France piled on the pressure ahead of Saturday's game against Italy when Scotland finally delivered the result - if not quite the performance - to lift the cloud over the former schoolteacher.

Glasgow star Evans said: 'Frank has got the support of all the players.

'I think he's a great coach and if ever there's a problem which he feels needs to be addressed, he'll always take the player aside and explain the reasoning for it.

'That's great to do when you're the head coach and I'm firmly behind him.'

Evans may have been alluding to Hadden's controversial decision to omit him from the Six Nations opener against Wales, a game which saw Scotland well beaten.

The 23-year-old was immediately recalled against France and set about proving he should have been in from the very start with a trademark try.

He came agonisingly close to another in Saturday's 26-6 win over Italy but retained the presence of mind upon being tackled five metres out to offload to Scott Gray for a fine score.

That and a sensational try from Simon Danielli were the only real bright spots in what was otherwise a dour, attritional affair.

Evans was a spectator at times but there was a buzz of anticipation inside Murrayfield every time he got the ball.

He said: 'The only time I really notice the crowd is during the anthems but once the game starts, I don't really hear much.

'Playing (for Glasgow) at Firhill this season, the ball doesn't come out too easily so it's taught me a lot about my game, having to come off my wing and get involved.

'I feel it's made me a better player but I just have that white-line fever when I get the ball.'

Regardless of the performance, Evans was delighted to get a first Six Nations victory under his belt.

He said: 'It's obviously great to get our first win and I'm really confident with the way the game went.

'Obviously, there were a few chances we couldn't put away - and we know that.

'It's something we'll be working on.'

He added: 'We know we've got a lot of talent in the squad but we're still frustrating at times.

'Obviously, when we had the ball in attack, we could have created a lot more chances for ourselves but it's tough against a defence like Italy.

'They're good tacklers and they put you under a lot of pressure.

'Playing against France last week, they just sit off you and almost let you play.

'It's tough going from a defence like that to the one this week.

'We feel we coped well but there are still improvements to be made.'

Evans and his older brother Max both started on Saturday, two weeks after playing in the same Scotland side for the first time.

That match in France was attended by their Portugal-based father, who cut short a family holiday in Barbados to be there.

Both parents were there on Saturday, while their father regularly flies back to attend Warriors matches.

Evans added: 'He may even buy a flat in Glasgow, he's been over so much.'