Glasgow coach Hugh Campbell has withdrawn from the process, leaving the Scottish Rugby Union to conduct interviews with Border Reivers coach Bates and Edinburgh Gunners Hadden.

The SRU have already spoken with the two men and further discussions are planned this week.

Hadden is the top choice of the Scotland players but SRU president Andy Irvine said: People will assume Frank is the front-runner as he was in interim charge.

But, lets be realistic, the Barbarians team we beat was anything but a world-class side and the autumn Tests against Argentina, Samoa and the All Blacks will be a completely different proposition.

The one thing Frank does have in his favour is he has worked with all the players already and they have all said the feel-good factor he brought to the squad made a huge difference.