Chris Cusiter plays pivotal role in renaissance of Scottish rugby

• Chris Cusiter hopes to become the first scotland captain to lead the national team to victory over New Zealand when the two nations meet in the autumn tests this November. Picture: David Cheskin/PA

The scrum-half has taken over the mantle from fellow Aberdonian Jason White as Scotland captain, and prepares to return to Scotland training at St Andrews this week almost fully recovered from the kneecap injury that kept him out of Scotland's successful tour to Argentina.

The future looks bright, but why he remains Andy Robinson's first choice to lead Scotland stems from the way Cusiter has also been tested in what seems to have been rugby's attempt to confirm that he is indeed moulded from the Granite City's famous strong stuff.

After a tough baptism in professional rugby at the now defunct Border Reivers, he endured the good and the bad of life in the French game as he fought his way into the Perpignan team, only to miss out when the side collected its long-awaited Top 14 medals, frozen out by coaches unhappy that he was leaving.

Back in Scotland, he similarly enjoyed the highs of regaining his Scotland place and being made captain, and helping Glasgow into the Magners League play-offs, and the lows of being bounced about medical wards with severe concussion, twice, and discovering that he had a lifelong patella condition, as his knee came apart and ruled him out of that much-awaited play-off - and Scotland's history-making series win in Argentina.

Then, at the end of last month, his father and inspiration Stan, the former North and Midlands stand-off and Aberdeen lawyer, passed away after a six-year battle with prostate cancer, aged just 58. He continued to work until his death, underlining the qualities that he had instilled in his sons Calum and Chris, and urged them to look forward.

Chris, therefore, might carry an injury but there is no other baggage from last season in his psyche. "Well, not in a negative sense," he says. "What Glasgow and Scotland experienced were great results that have given us all something worthwhile to build on now going forward. It has been hard for me, maybe, but it's about looking forward now."

It only takes a few minutes in his company to appreciate why Cusiter is among the most positive and engaging characters in the current Scotland squad. Strong, determined and competitive, he retains a modesty and sense of humility that makes it difficult for playing rivals to carry any dislike off the field.

Reflecting on his first year back in Scottish rugby, Cusiter could hardly be more enthusiastic. "I really enjoyed last season at Glasgow and being part of the club achieving its highest-ever finish in the Magners League, and also getting back to starting for Scotland, which I hadn't had for a couple of years, and being captain was just such a huge honour. It is definitely one of the best seasons in my professional career and now I just want to build on that, and keep improving as a player.

"I went to France with an open mind and it was a fantastic experience, but at the end of the two years I was ready to come back. But I've come back a better player. Just playing and testing yourself in an intense environment every week was huge, and to a high level, challenging for the Top 14 and Heineken Cup titles, but also on a personal level with responsibilities such as calling lineouts and directing plays the way they expect of a scrum-half in France, but which are generally roles for the hooker and lock and stand-off here.

"I had some injuries last season, but I've had a lot worse. They were just unlucky really, but that's part of the game. I still felt I played some of the best rugby of my career so far, and just want to get going again this season. We've moved into good-quality training facilities now at Scotstoun, and we have a good group of players who work hard, who I enjoy playing with, with a good mix of foreign guys who all get on well. We have to kick on now."

If it is feared Scotland's best players leaving the country is to the detriment of the sport, Cusiter is one example of the benefits that can be achieved from individuals heading elsewhere and returning to share what they have learned. Certainly Cusiter's experience of greater responsibility played a part in his securing the Scotland captaincy, but one aspect that should not be underestimated is the eradication of any inferiority complex.

Cusiter states: "The fact is we're never going to have the depth that France have - they have 28 professional teams in France to our two - so they could probably name another eight scrum-halves of international ability who will never get the opportunity at that level because there are others just that little bit better. But, at the same time, I have no doubt that our top guys are as good, and capable of competing with anyone in the world.

"There is still a bit of the mentality in Scotland that things are done better in England or France. Having been over there I don't believe that at all. Other clubs do things differently and may have that extra depth, but Scotland has fantastic attributes that others don't have. The work ethic in Scottish professional rugby is outstanding; the desire to work on aspects of our game and improve to compete at the top is outstanding, and isn't the same elsewhere.

"For Glasgow and Edinburgh to compete in the Magners League with the budgets we have is testament to that. The Welsh and Irish teams have much bigger budgets and squads, and so can bring in players from the southern hemisphere in a way we can't compete with, but get us on the pitch and we certainly can compete and we're going to get better and better."

To substantiate that claim, he points to the SRU move to integrate academy players with the clubs rather than strive to hot-house the most talented youngsters at Murrayfield, as in recent years, and his belief that the relatively young average age at Glasgow and Edinburgh will lead to better consistency in coming years.

Cusiter may be quietly spoken, but he is persuasive and passionate. After helping Robinson launch ticket sales for the forthcoming autumn Test series, he spent the afternoon out at Inverurie, meeting a group of around 20 youngsters who had been attending a summer camp at Garioch, run by local development officer Chris Lawson. Nothing was too much trouble for the scrum-half, having countless pictures taken, signing autographs, answering questions about all sorts and passing on his own rugby tips.

After being asked where tickets can be bought for the Samoa Test, he continued: "This is why having the game at Pittodrie will inspire kids and young rugby players, and perhaps people who hadn't considered rugby before, which is what Scotland and the north-east of Scotland needs.

"There is a lot of talent up here. It is a big area and there are a lot of people working hard with the clubs to bring the kids through. Aberdeen deserves to have international games played here and I'm sure it will bring a big benefit to the north-east."

Being from the city, Cusiter knows the logistics and costs involved in families from the north travelling to Murrayfield to watch games, and while he does not advocate starting a third professional team in the north as yet, he would like to see Glasgow and Edinburgh begin to generate the kind of crowds and finance that puts such a possibility back on the table.

His short-term focus is to re-establish himself in the Scotland squad. He is hoping to start the season with Glasgow, but admits medics are not sure if his knee will be 100 per cent by the opening weekend. But this week's talk in St Andrews will be about New Zealand, and Scotland's quest to follow a first in Argentina with another historic result at Murrayfield.

"It is a huge challenge," Cusiter added. "They are the best team in the world and some of the rugby they've been playing in the Tri-Nations is just unbelievable, but that's not to say that because Scotland haven't beaten them before it can't be done now.

"Beating Australia last November showed that we are able to compete with the southern hemisphere teams and it will be the end of a long, tough season for them. But it's the biggest challenge in rugby. We have to keep building on what we've done in the last few games and play the best game that we've ever played to win it.

"But every time we take the field we believe that if we execute things to the best of our ability we will win, and that won't be any different against the All Blacks.

"Last season's results have built confidence and everyone is feeling good. The more you play against big teams and the more you beat them, the more it gives you confidence about what can be achieved in the future. All the players are feeling good at the moment, but there is a great desire to build on it, I feel - a feeling that we want to kick on and improve and be better."

Many believe that an ability to retain hope in adversity is the trait needed above all others to lead Scotland, and if that is true then in Cusiter the national squad looks to have found the perfect candidate.