Phil Godman called into Scotland Six Nations squad

PHIL Godman was called up to the Scotland squad for the RBS Six Nations yesterday, joining the battle for the No 10 jersey.

Scotland has produced talented young stand offs recently but the 29-year-old Godman has 23 caps, gained before a serious knee injury curtailed his international and Edinburgh careers.

He will join the squad in St Andrews next week, he will hope having helped Edinburgh into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over London Irish at Murrayfield on Sunday. Godman is expected to be on the bench with Greig Laidlaw the preferred No 10.

As they prepare for the Calcutta Cup against England at Murrayfield on Saturday 4 February, Scotland have three stand-offs in the squad – Ruaridh Jackson, Dan Parks and Duncan Weir – with Laidlaw included in his regular position of scrum-half but also able to cover at No 10.

Godman’s call-up comes as Jackson continues to battle a hamstring injury that has plagued him since the fourth minute of Scotland’s final World Cup match against England. Jackson was immediately forced off the field in that game and has only managed to start three games since returning from New Zealand, the last ending early against Scarlets a fortnight ago.

It was hoped he might be back for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup match at Bath, where he announced himself with a great display three years ago. But he is not yet fully fit and may need at least another week before he can resume full training.

Godman missed last season after knee reconstruction surgery and has also started just three times for Edinburgh this term. He, however, reminded the Scotland coach Andy Robinson and his colleagues of his big-match nerve in Paris just over a week ago when he came off the bench to slot the last-second drop-goal that clinched victory for Edinburgh over Racing Metro 92. His call-up will allow the coaching staff to operate with full XVs, as Robinson likes to in training, with Laidlaw and/or Weir potentially primed for Scotland A action against England Saxons at Netherdale on Friday 3 February.

Godman won his last cap against England in the 2010 RBS Six Nations Championship and has never given up hope of returning to the Scotland set-up.

“That was the plan,” he said. “You always think about getting back into it for the club but also about playing for Scotland. It’s just great to be back playing for Edinburgh and to be back involved with Scotland.”

With his lack of game time, it seems unlikely Godman will feature against England.

It would also seem harsh on the in-form men, Weir and Laidlaw but they are both uncapped at stand-off.

Parks finished Scotland’s last Test match and is first choice at Cardiff, so would appear to be in pole position. But the coaches must weigh form and inexperience against lack of form and experience for the back-up role.