Dan Parks aims to turn jeers into cheers as he leads out team for 50th cap

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 22:20

IF IT is true Scotland perform best when their backs are to the wall and belief is low, then there may be few better players to lead them out than Dan Parks.

Parks was born in Sydney, Australia, but few Scots have shown the same inner steel and courage in recent times than the 31-year-old stand-off. Emerging at a time of unprecedented low stocks in Scotland fly-halfs, Parks' fine skills propelled him into the hot-seat in 2004, when new coach Matt Williams 'retired' Gregor Townsend, now Parks' Test coach.

He suffered confidence-shattering low points against Wales in 2005, Italy in 2007 and then in 2008 when jeered off at Murrayfield on his last Test appearance there, not long after coming on as a temporary replacement against South Africa, because he had missed two crucial kicks at goal. While he spent 2009 in rugby purgatory for poor form on field and court appearances off it many believed Parks' international career to be over.

But, on Saturday, the rejuvenated Glasgow fly-half will lead Scotland out on to the Murrayfield pitch on the occasion of his 50th cap, the player's own reluctance at taking centre stage coming second to the respect he has among teammates, most of whom voted him their 'player of the tournament' at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Character is a central tenet demanded of Scottish players and that is one aspect of Parks that cannot be questioned.

Speaking after yesterday's team announcement, there were moments where he was a touch emotional, acknowledgement perhaps this was not a moment he thought he would ever see.

He admitted: "It feels good (to reach 50]. It's something I've never thought about. When I first came to Scotland it wasn't even about playing for Scotland, it was about playing for Glasgow.

"To be given an opportunity to play for Scotland was very satisfying and a very proud moment for me. Over the years it has always been a proud moment to wear the jersey. To get to 50 is very pleasing, just to know that I've stuck in there and given myself a chance to get there. I think of the players I've played with and the coaches who have had the confidence to select me."

Ironically, his opposite number this weekend, Jonny Wilkinson, is under more pressure as England struggle to evoke quality performances from a squad rich in talent. That brought a wry smile to Parks' face, as he was asked whether the stand-off position attracted the most criticism on the field.

"I'd have to agree with that. At the moment you guys (media] are being nice to me, which is good, but there have been times when you haven't been so nice.

"It hurts if you read it. Some people are hurt by it. For me, it's about separating yourself from the good and the bad press and trying to believe in what you and your team-mates and coach believe in. If you do well for them then everyone else will be happy.

"My father's always said I had to pick the position that was going to get the most flak. We've had a joke about it. I don't feel bitter about it, it's just the way it is. Hero or zero. It's great when you're a hero, but not so great when you're a zero.

"I don't know about the stick he (Wilkinson] has been copping. But I will say this: every game we go out there and play, we're just doing our best. You guys have a job to write things, but we're doing our best. There are times when it goes good for you and times when it goes bad, but it's never a case of not putting it in."

The key for Scotland again this weekend is winning good, quick ball to enable Parks to control the game, and with renewed confidence he has the kicking skills to pen England in their own half where teammates can turn his strengths to their advantage. He also has the experience of being part of the last two Calcutta Cup successes at Murrayfield, and he would willingly give up the recent 'man-of-the-match' awards against Wales and Italy to clinch a rare hat-trick.

"It's obviously special, because in Scotland everyone talks about the biggest game of the season being against England. It's at Murrayfield and you can say it's like any other game, but it isn't; it's England, and on a personal level it's my 50th cap so it's something I really want to win.

"The last two times we've beaten them it was based on us being as physical as they were. We pressurised them and Mossy (Chris Paterson] kicked his points really well. I'll be doing my best to put the team in the right position and create opportunities. We did that very well against Wales, but sort of capitulated. Against Italy, we gave the start away, but we came back and were looking quite good.

"We've not had the bounce of the ball, but hopefully that will change and there will be more people cheering than jeering on Saturday."

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