Biggest decisions still to be made as coaches recognise Test experience is vital

YOUTHFUL enthusiasm is a great attribute for any team, but there is nothing as reassuring as Test experience when a squad enters the pressurised World Cup environment.

There is no doubting the serious level of intensity players will face when they touch down in New Zealand for a World Cup that could suggest “rugby is coming home” with greater resonance than England could. The sense of anticipation off the field is terrific already, and the fever-pitch of what unfolds on it is likely to be at a nerve-shattering level come kick-off on 9 September.

That, therefore, goes some way to explaining why the Scotland coaches, in particular, are hugely relieved to see the names Euan Murray, Chris Cusiter and Mike Blair in this weekend’s final EMC warm-up squad. It underlines why they were also prepared to take a chance with these players and leave their recovery from fitness to the last moment.

The trio bring a combined 90 years and 161 Test matches’ worth of experience to what is in some areas a relatively callow squad. Chris Paterson may be making his fourth appearance in a tournament, but the vast majority are preparing for only their second.

Murray has been struggling with an Achilles injury, Cusiter a calf strain – they start on the bench on Saturday – and Blair an ankle knock, injuries not deemed serious provided one steered clear of the type of heavy training necessary in pre-season.

So, all have experienced real low points in the past two months and been fearful of World Cup prospects being dashed. Murray also has his religious beliefs. He prefers to keep his faith to himself, but his expressions show how acutely aware he is that his decision not to play on Sundays will leave him available for only three matches – involving Romania, Georgia and England – as the Argentina pool clash and, if the Scots finish second in the pool, all knock-out matches including the final will fall on the Sabbath.

Pushed on whether he felt that made his selection a tougher one for the coaches, he said: “I have been selected for the 40-man squad and come up to training and now been selected for the bench. If I get a chance I will do my best for my country and my team-mates. If the coaches and selectors want to take me then they make the decision.

“The Achilles was an ‘over-use’ injury and my goal was always to be fit for the Italy game at the latest, so I’m pleased to make it.”

Clearly, it is a decision for the coaches and not the player, and it hinges on the value Andy Robinson places in Murray’s ability to anchor the Scotland scrum and allow the back line to threaten. He has been pleased with Rory Lawson’s form, but the head coach also hankers after a return to form for Blair and Cusiter. Blair believes his fitness has at least caught up.

Blair said: “I’ve been in full training for the last three weeks. From the end of June I’ve been able to do the volume of running a couple of times a week so that in running fitness terms I don’t feel that far behind. Since I returned to training about three weeks ago I’ve done everything I could have done – contact, speed work, scrum half passing, everything – and I have been really confident on it.

“Sometimes for me pre-season can be too long. I know a lot of people, coaches especially, say they can be too short, but I am reaching that phase now where I am really excited and feeling really good and desperate to play. The timing has worked really well for me.”

Cusiter is similarly enthused and one can almost sense a relaxing of the worry lines across Robinson’s forehead. The next test is for the three of them to come through Saturday’s match with Italy unscathed, and while gaining world-class form might be stretching the target somewhat the coaches are keen to step up their training regimes across the next three weeks to give them the opportunity.

It is arguably the biggest call the coaches have to make: British and Irish Lions still to regain match fitness and form against less-experienced performers who are 100 per cent fit? Provided all three come through the final EMC Warm-Up Test without problems all are expected to be part of the 30-man squad announced on Monday, but questions over their readiness might remain for some weeks yet.