'The side is really up for this game, really confident of doing well'

Published on Saturday 7 February 2009 18:57

HOW I wish I could report from the frontline, but I can't. Not this week. A knee injury has ruled me out of the Welsh game so come kick-off it'll be a place in the stand for me, alongside Leann and little Josh, who's already got a Scotland jersey, but who at 12 days old is just a wee bit too small to get into it just yet.

Anyway, I got to thinking about this column and what to say and, really, when you're on the outside looking in, there's not a lot you can bring to the table. Except one thing. I'm taking you on a trip around the Scotland dressing room. A who's who of the side that's going to play against the Welsh, a side that's really up for this game, really confident of doing well despite the many dangers that Wales possess. And we're starting with...

1 THE STALWART

Allan Jacobsen is one of the top men of the team. He is relentless. Nothing bothers him. No matter the crisis, Chunk just ploughs on. Remember all that unrest at Edinburgh a few years back, all the stuff with their former owner transferring their contract to the Cayman Islands and such like? Chunk would have just ignored it and got on with his job. Single-minded and focused. I really rate him as a prop and he's got good hands and vision.

2 THE BEAST

Ross Ford is indescribably strong. I'm talking seriously powerful here. He's a very driven fella. Wants to learn, wants to get better and is very honest about himself. He's quite self-critical which is a good thing. Lots of pundits are mentioning him as a possible Lions Test player and he wouldn't be out of place in that company. Only 24-years-old and fast improving. 250lbs of pure determination.

3 THE BOFFIN

A qualified doctor, Geoff Cross is a mightily intelligent guy. Comes from a large and lovely family. One of the boys told me he's got a pilot's licence or a helicopter licence or something of that nature. Must ask him. Geoff and I love these New Scientist books. Does Anything Eat Wasps? and Do Penguins' Feet Get Cold? and Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? We'd be in the gym and he'll go, "I have a question, 'Do fish get thirsty?'" and we'd talk about that as we do our training. Great fun. Making his debut today. Good luck, mate.

4 THE STANDARD-BEARER

Jason White uses his words economically but when he talks everybody listens. He sets the standard, in the gym, on the training field and in the Test match. He's played less than an hour of rugby this year because of a broken finger but a broken finger doesn't stop you running and Jase will have been training real hard. Much has been made of him going into the second-row but it's not a big deal. Nobody should worry about Jase.

5 THE BIG MAN

Jim Hamilton was one of our main men in the autumn. He's really putting his hand up now, really demolishing the arguments about him almost being too big and cumbersome to get around the field. He's getting around just fine. Really good mates with Chunk. Always up for a laugh. Has the mentality that he wants to prove people wrong all the time, which is great.

6 THE CIRCUS ACT

We say that Ally Hogg is like something out of a circus in that when he runs he doesn't look like he's moving all that fast but he's actually flying. It just looks so effortless for him at times. He's playing six which is a new departure and a big challenge. Has all the talent in the world and should be really buoyed by Frank Hadden's faith in him. This is a fantastic opportunity to nail down a place in a back-row that has lots of fine options.

7 THE TYRO

Earmarked from school as potentially one of the great Scottish flankers, John Barclay is coming along very nicely. In his first cap he out-played Richie McCaw, so that wasn't a bad old start for him. Has a childlike sense of humour which is probably why I get on with him very well even though there's a year or two between us. Up against the excellent Martyn Williams today. He'll love that challenge.

8 THE ONE-OFF

The other day I looked into Simon Taylor's kit-bag and he must have had three CDs and four books in there. I said to him, 'that's what I really like about you, Simon, you're very different'. I love his quirkiness. Can be hard to get to know but I've been around him for eight or nine years now and I think I understand him. He's a ferocious competitor once he gets out on to that pitch.

9 THE CAPTAIN

As good a scrum-half as there is in the world. Mike Blair is slippery and brave and has a good eye for a gap. Comfortable with the captaincy and understands the game better than most of us. Up against Mike Phillips today. They're probably the top picks for the Lions at the moment.

10 THE KICKER

Godders has had a tough time of it. People always remember the Italy game like it was all his fault. It wasn't. But Phil Godman's a much better player now than he was then, more confident, more complete. Terrific attacking 10 who's adept at creating space. Mentally, a strong boy.

11 THE PIN-UP

Good to have Sean Lamont back. I might have seen more skin than I would have liked when he posed for that Stade Francais calendar last season, but I haven't enough of him in full flight for Scotland in recent seasons. Can be a devastating runner given the chance. Let's hope he gets that chance.

12 THE G-DOG

That's what we call Graeme Morrison. He's a very powerful guy, but he's got plenty of football in him. He won't be daunted by this today. He's been waiting a while for games like this one and I think we'll see a massively determined performance. He'll need to smash those Welsh runners at every turn.

13 THE CREATOR

Ben Cairns has done exceptionally well since coming into the team on the tour to Argentina last summer. He hasn't looked back since. I remember him from before but he was a lot thinner then. The extra bulk helps. Pretty quiet guy who I sense thinks a lot about rugby. The Welsh defence is a tough nut to crack, but he's up for it.

14 THE DERVISH

Simon Webster is a high-energy and hugely positive person. We were neighbours in Edinburgh. In fact, he bought my flat off me when I left. He's always upbeat, which is a great thing to have in the dressing room. Didn't surprise me he was picked because Webbo can cause mayhem. Has scored against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, so that's not a bad track record.

15 THE LAST LINE

Hugo Southwell is playing some of the best rugby of his career right now. He's bright and clever, sees the game clearly and has a big old boot on him when he catches hold of it. He's a generous guy but hopefully he'll be mean this afternoon.

That's the lads for you. I wish I was with them but I won't be far away. I'll be a face in the crowd, willing them on, hoping that they can deliver a famous victory.

&#149 Injury update, part I: I won't bore you with the details, but I fancy my chances of being fit for Saturday in Paris, if required, that is. The knee is rehabbing okay and I'm very hopeful of being available to play against the French. Last time I faced their captain, Lionel Nallet, it was in a club game and he accused me of punching him when actually it was somebody else. A case of mistaken identity, which, I'm relieved to report, he accepted.

&#149 Injury update, part II: Spoke to my Perpignan team-mate, Dan Carter, last week. He was home alone eating a pizza. He's knackered his Achilles tendon and, sadly, won't be playing for us again. He was telling me that round about the moment it happened his girlfriend was getting on a flight from France to New Zealand to head home for a few months. Not the best day of his life, for sure. I can only wish him well. He'll bounce back, I'm certain.