Reunited Mike Blair and Phil Godman aim to catch eye

THE NAME and shape of the opposition mean far less to Scotland's half-back combination at Murrayfield tonight than the simple aim of beginning the climb back into the mind of Scotland coach Andy Robinson.

Mike Blair and Phil Godman have become a familiar pairing at Edinburgh in recent years, and they may have believed they would become something of a fixture in the Scotland team when Godman took over the reins from Dan Parks in Argentina in 2008. However, nowhere is the topsy-turvy world of international rugby more evident than in the rollercoaster rides these players have endured in the last two years.

Blair had seized his chance to become the Scotland No 9 when Chris Cusiter was in New Zealand with the British and Irish lions in 2005, but Cusiter returned the compliment last summer when Blair was wearing the Lions red jersey in South Africa. Godman then lost the No 10 jersey in February as Parks outshone him in the Magners League derbies and was then promoted to the Scotland starting line-up for the final four Six Nations games. If Cusiter is passed fit, and that remains a gamble as the scrum-half's injured knee is not yet 100 per cent, he and Parks are likely to be Robinson's first-choice half-backs for the first Test in Argentina on 12 June.

However, Godman has been here before. He went to Argentina two years ago as Parks' deputy only for coach Frank Hadden to change tack after the first Test and turn to Godman's more expansive style. The second Test win duly thrust Godman back into the hot-seat and he started Scotland's next 12 Test matches.

The fly-half admitted it would be nice to think his career could follow a similar upturn in South America this time around, but for now is just happy to be selected for the side that faces Japan tonight while Parks is rested.

He said: "Dan did really well in the Six Nations and the shirt is his at the moment, but this is a good opportunity for me to show Andy I'm playing well and give him another option in Argentina.

"It is beneficial having a game before the tour, to try out some things and see if our moves are working before we head off. We're training through this week but it's a lot better having the pressure of a game with a crowd against a good Japan side than having a closed-doors training game.

"At the beginning of the season I was delighted with my form, but it went from the two derby games where I was injured but also played poorly. But, perversely, getting a bit of a rest through the Six Nations has probably helped me and I'm looking forward to the tour and hopefully getting some game time.

There are seven changes to the side that finished the RBS Six Nations Championship with a stirring victory in Ireland. Alex Grove and Simon Danielli join Godman and Blair in returning to the side, while, up front, Glasgow trio Moray Low, Richie Gray and Richie Vernon are called up. Hugo Southwell provides stand-off cover.

The game, being covered live by BBC Radio Scotland, will be the fifth non-cap international between the two countries, Scotland winning two at Murrayfield and one in Tokyo between 1976 and 1986, but losing the fourth meeting, in 1989 in Tokyo, 28-24.

Japan, who wish to be known as a Japan Select rather than an 'A' team, will be without their highly-rated hooker Ryuhei Arita, the under-20 captain in last year's IRB Junior World Cup, after he suffered a knee injury against Currie, and Takeo Kanai, who has already returned to Japan with a fractured eye socket sustained in the same match.

The Japanese coach Masahiro Kunda oversaw the U20s last year and he has also promoted the powerful Tongan-born centre Aisea Mattaali Havea. With only a few players aged over 25, it is a young squad being aimed at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, the latter being hosted for the first time by Japan. Full-back Ayumu Goromaru has just turned 24, but is a relative Test veteran with ten caps.

Scotland have won all three full tests with Japan and Blair is one of tonight's four survivors from the last Test meeting in 2004, where the Scots posted a record 100-8 win. After a season severely disrupted by a succession of ankle and head injuries he is merely keen to return to the field, and cares little about a repeat century.

He said: "It has been a frustrating season for me but I've had a good three weeks of fitness and conditioning and I'm really keen to play now.

"This is a different Japanese team looking to the 2015 World Cup, but our focus is on what we can do.

"I'd agree that Andy has a fair idea of what his Test team is going to be for that first Test in Argentina, but this game before we go is a good opportunity for a lot of players."