Rugby: Currie stalwart Hamilton shocked by All Black call up

The 22-year-old Scottish club internationalist received a surprise call to assist with scrummaging practice at training ahead of tomorrow's Murrayfield clash against Scotland when injuries restricted the tourists' front row options.

"I suppose for a second or so I considered rejecting the call and letting them stew," joked Hamilton. "Seriously, you can't turn down learning experiences of the type I have just had."

One slice of encouragement for Scotland that Hamilton is able to pass on concerned the way the some of the All Blacks were struggling under Scottish conditions.

"Some of them were admitting to being frozen out on the training pitch," he said.

The opportunity of a lifetime began when the apprentice joiner with Cairns Castle Construction took a phone call asking if he would be able to assist.

"The All Blacks (Scottish) liaison officer, Frank Sibbald, is a friend of the Currie No.?8 Ross Weston's family.

"That was the connection that led to me getting the call from Frank and I'd imagine some of my New Zealand-born colleagues in the Currie team will be pretty shocked to learn I've trained with the All Blacks.

"Full back Hayden Abercrombie (who has played for the North Harbour provincial side) has already been texting me for details of the session.

"I was shaking as I drove to the Spartans FC academy at Pilton where the session was being held and I drove back feeling shocked that I'd done what I'd done.

"It was good, though. I learned a lot and it was good fun."

Hamilton was involved in a series of three-on-three drills under the watchful eye of scrum sage Mike Cron as he packed down alongside this weekend's Test reserve hooker Andrew Hore.

It is believed the All Blacks were trying to work on a strategy for countering higher body positions in the scrums as experienced against England.

With Ben Franks invalided out with a bulging disc they needed another big body until a replacement arrived. "Compared to what we do it's a lot lower and a lot tighter and Mike Cron was a huge help to me with the players really supportive as well," said Hamilton. "It's something to tell the boys in the pub at the weekend - I scrummed with the All Blacks.

"Hopefully, too, I'll be better placed to keep Currie on the right track after a really good win over Ayr last time out in the league."

That win has hauled Currie up to fifth but ten points behind leaders Melrose.

Coincidentally there are three Kiwis in the Currie side which tomorrow seeks to gain revenge for an earlier defeat by Hawick this season.

Coach Ally Donaldson, who makes one change with Steve Burton replacing Adam Best at second row, is wary, saying: "Since beating us Hawick have won two further matches.

"We have to find consistency and hopefully a settled team will help us do that."

Club action gets underway tonight with Boroughmuir heading for Glasgow Hawks, also in group A.

Boroughmuir make only one change from the squad which squeezed past Dalziel in the Scottish Cup last week with Andrew Rose coming on to the bench for Cammy Orr, who has a shoulder injury.

Heriot's head for Melrose while, in Group B, where teams start with a clean sheet in chasing four places back to next season's top flight, Watsonians await Gala and Edinburgh Accies receive Selkirk.

Watsonians stand by the backs who accounted for Kirkcaldy in the Cup last week.

Nick Hart returns up front at hooker with Scott Laird unavailable while Donald Seed is back at second row.

In the back-row Harris Grant returns from injury and Scotland age-grade cap Duncan Finnie is up from Durham University for the match with Andrew Porter out injured.

Having lost only once this season Accies are, not surprisingly, confident, but have a string of changes.

Jamie Sole, Matt Coupar and Johnny Adams all return to the backs while up front Kenny Blyth is available after serving a two-week suspension and both Robin Snape and Andy Lamb return.

In group C, Stewart's Melville, after a good Cup win over Hillhead/Jordanhill, host Jed.