Rugby: Wing ready to play a part as Scotland seek a historic win

On the last of his 15 caps two years ago the 6ft 4in and 16st 10lb wing looked to have made himself a fixture with man-of-the-match honours and a brace of tries as Canada were dispatched 41-0.

But partly through injury, subsequent calls never came and all the time pent-up determination grew as previous coach Frank Hadden departed to be replaced by Andy Robinson.

Now, though, Walker is back on the bench and determined to do justice to any chance against the world No 1s.

"I've been waiting for this and intend to push for a place in the starting line-up," said Walker, adding: "I'm glad I've been included at a time when I'm playing well for Ospreys and feel I deserve this chance.

"Against Glasgow recently I felt I made myself hard to ignore."

If Walker seems bullish, that it is necessary for confronting a team Scotland haven't beaten in 27 previous meetings - a view shared by the squad.

"This is the most confident Scotland squad I've been involved with after three away wins," said Walker, who debuted in 2002 but had to wait five years for his fourth cap.

"To be confident going in against New Zealand shows how far we have come and since Andy Robinson took over there is a sense of expectation." Walker's only previous brush with the All Blacks came in 2007 when he was part of the World Cup second string that lost 40-0 as resources were rotated to save their front-liners for a decisive sectional clash with Italy later on.

Critics decried the fixture as devalued, while others were pragmatic.

Giving the strong impression he recognised where both parties were coming from, Walker indicated that onus has been placed on subsequent Scotland teams to show the country's truest rugby capabilities.

"I think there is more onus on us to show what we can do.

"The previous time I played against New Zealand it was pretty much seen as Scotland putting out the seconds. That makes it difficult to know what I can take from the experience of playing them but I have at tasted the intensity.

"New Zealand have speed down their back line and all over the pitch so our defence, which is normally a strength, will have to be at its best.

"We'll also have to have more attacking threat because teams normally score tries to beat New Zealand.

"Whatever, I'm confident Scotland have enough intensity."

From Hawick, Walker has grown up aware of Kiwi rugby traditions. "As a youngster I watched the Maoris put 50 points on a Borders side and know Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks," he explained. "That's our incentive."

Walker should know that records are there to be broken, having scored as Scotland defeated a World Cup-winning side, South Africa, for the first time back in 2002.

Only Nathan Hines of the current squad shared that occasion so what would it mean to complete a Southern Hemisphere double?

"Beating both the South Africans and - last year - Australia shows what Scotland are capable of and there's no reason why we can't repeat those type of performances," he said.