Rugby: City duo can be No 9 dream team

But the difference ahead of tonight's opening EMC Autumn Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield compared to, say, when Alan Lawson (Heriot's) was competing with Dougie Morgan (Stewart's Melville) for the No9 shirt during the 1970s is that both Mike Blair and Greig Laidlaw ply their trade for the same team.

It is a situation containing obvious difficulties which Capital coach Rob Moffat has had to handle with keen diplomacy in keeping Laidlaw involved while retaining Blair as first choice.

But, as both have indicated this week, there is also a significant plus side to the rivalry.

Shortly after being called on to the Scotland bench as cover for Blair and, ironically, replacing the injured Rory Lawson who had to move from Edinburgh to Gloucester to get sufficient game-time to enable him to gain cap recognition, Laidlaw admitted it had been a struggle to keep himself in the frame.

That is especially the case, having had just three starts to Blair's seven this season but Laidlaw insisted: "It's one foot in the door for me after Mike and I brought the best out of each other.

"I have been helped by having a figure like Mike at the club (because) I could have been stuck in a rut instead of having someone like him to try to get in front of.

That's benefited my career."

Blair is equally magnanimous and not just due to the fact that as captain he has responsibilities towards getting the best out of each of the match-day 22.

"Greig has stepped up in the last 18 months and when I was injured in the middle of last season he did a great job.

"He is a very nuggety player who works hard on his skills to deserve this opportunity."

In other words the position will be in safe hands if - as is usual - coach Andy Robinson operates a policy of fresh legs.

Coincidentally, both players come from strong rugby families and if much has been made of Laidlaw's famous uncle, Roy, his dad, Davie, was also a more than useful performer with Jed-Forest.

Likewise, two of Mike's brothers, David and Alex, are on Edinburgh's books, but it is also the case that Dad, Rob, is an ex-captain of Edinburgh Accies.In Laidlaw's case it is an obvious course of action to be contacting British Lion uncle Roy ahead of kick-off.

"It was maybe in a different era but, nevertheless, Roy has played for Scotland and its only natural I'll be looking to draw on his experiences," said Laidlaw, who does not envisage changing his approach.

"The way I've been doing things with Edinburgh has got me into the squad and only one step away from representing Scotland so I'll try and keep on doing the same."

For Blair there is particularly deep insight so far as New Zealand rugby is concerned going back to school days.

"I was part of a combined Scottish schools under-18 team that toured New Zealand in 1999 and along with others I was exposed to the high intensity of the rugby," he recalled.

Soon after that tour, Blair entered the professional ranks and began honing captaincy skills at Edinburgh, although Roddy Grant has taken over the armband this season.

Has that benefited Mike in terms of being able to focus more strongly on regaining a Test place surrendered to first Chris Cusiter and then Rory Lawson, albeit with injuries hampering him?

"It's fantastic that Roddy has taken on the Edinburgh captaincy and is doing a brilliant job. But I feel I am contributing with Edinburgh how I would like to contribute with Scotland.

"That means stepping back and overseeing (while) making sure I am concentrating on my game, speaking when I want to speak so that all eyes aren't on me."

What Blair will reinforce beforehand is the need for improved discipline compared to the last visit of the Kiwis two years ago, while taking care not to inhibit his team.

Then, the loss of a player for ten minutes early on saw Scotland quickly fall behind and never regain the initiative, eventually going down 6-32.

"We had a great first three minutes," says Blair wryly.

Already Blair has his name etched on the Calcutta Cup as a winning captain but eyes are now set on an All Black scalp that has eluded all his predecessors in 27 previous clashes.

Can Blair re-write Scottish captaincy history? Not many will have had a talent such as possessed by Greig Laidlaw snapping at his heels and that can only benefit Scotland's cause tonight, that's for sure.

"I could have been stuck in a rut instead of having someone like him [Blair] to try to get in front of" Greig laidlaw