McIlwham issues warning to Scots team

Published on Thursday 20 November 2008 21:42

THE Canada-based former Scotland forward Gordon McIlwham last night warned his old team to treat the Canucks lightly at their peril.

The sides go head-to-head at Pittodrie tomorrow with the weathermen predicting the type of blizzard conditions the visitors are perhaps more accustomed to.

Calcutta Cup hero McIlwham, now settled with his family on a small island near Vancouver, insisted Frank Hadden's men must be on their guard, no matter the elements.

He declared: "In terms of organisation and teamwork, the Canadians will always struggle a bit because they are not together as a squad very often.

"Many of their top men are playing in Europe, while the guys based at home can be thousands of miles apart with some on the east coast and some on the west. But what they might lack in these facets they more than make up for in raw pace and power as well as enthusiasm.

"The bottom line is that if Scotland give them scoring opportunities, they will make the most of them – so it is up to the Scots to take advantage of their own pressure.

"The general standard of rugby over here is improving steadily and there will be a few lads playing at Aberdeen who will be determined to use the occasion as a shop window in the hope of earning a pro contract in the British Isles, France or Italy."

Prop McIlwham, who played with the great Glasgow Hawks side of the late 1990s, represented the city's pro team before switching to Munster. His best moment came in 1990 when he had a direct hand in setting up the try for Duncan Hodge which clinched the shock Calcutta Cup triumph over England at Murrayfield.