Extending Scots' winning run all that matters to Godman

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 08:40

PHIL GODMAN wants to continue where he left off against Argentina when the Pumas visit Murrayfield on Saturday.

It was in Buenos Aires last year that Godman gained a recall to the Scotland team and, after sharing in a 26-14 win, the stand off has started each of ten subsequent Tests.

In looking forward to renewing an acquaintance that has obviously been good for him, the 27-year-old admitted: "I'm one from one against Argentina but what matters is the importance of completing a trio of Autumn test wins this weekend.

"We need to back up successes against Fiji and Australia against opponents who will be very dogged."

Godman will go into action on an all-time high having been awarded the man-of-the-match prize for the first time in a 19-cap career.

"At the end of the game I was so shellshocked, so knackered I could hardly take in the announcement. It's nice and I'm sure my mum and dad, who have been very supportive, will find a place of honour for the man-of-the-match trophy.

"But winning is what we were there to do and any individual honour was for the team.

"There were others who stood out for me including both our scrum halves, Chris Cusiter for the way he started and then Rory Lawson after he took over and proved outstanding.

"To have Mike Blair, who missed out through injury, sitting in the stand added to the feeling that we have three world-class scrum halves of exceptional quality and that depth contributed to beating Australia."

Despite such credentials Scotland came within a last-gap conversion of losing but Godman revealed he hadn't given up hope when Matt Giteau lined up a kick ten metres in from the left-hand touchline.

"At the end it was a bit surreal to be standing behind the posts thinking we had held them out for two or three minutes on our line.

"Some guys were jumping about to charge the conversion but I was shattered and standing there in a daze.

"At the back of my mind though I knew the wind was blustery and there had been a few misses already.

"Even in my shock I could afford to be a bit hopeful."

In fact, two of the earlier misses came from Giteau while Godman's sole mis-fire actually acted as a range finder for when he stepped up shortly afterwards with a penalty from a similar angle.

"The first time I took a penalty in the second half I hit it straight down the middle and was surprised to miss.

"The next one I started quite a bit right and I thought it might sneak in at the right hand post but it actually rebounded over off the left-hand post."

That helped take Godman's international points tally to 65 and he added: "I was just delighted to see the ball going over and help us win what was the best defensive performance I have ever been involved in."

Scotland made 129 tackles to Australia's 64 while the visitors had 70 per cent of the territory and 60 per cent possession. Godman added: "There were moments in attack where we showed a bit of ambition but going in at 3-3 for half-time was a massive boost.

"We knew then we were in with a shout and it was a case of seeing it through.

"Any level of rugby, but especially internationals, is all about winning. That's where you get your confidence from and that will help with a really hard game coming up against Argentina. We'd like to have much more possession because everyone was out on their feet through defending being a lot harder than attacking and key will be holding on to the ball better."

And what of Aussie fall guy Giteau?

"He just had an off-day," said Godman who qualified his remarks by saying: "Giteau is a fantastic player, one of the best No.10s in the world."