Alasdair Dickinson eager to banish setbacks by impressing on return to favoured position

ALASDAIR Dickinson was reluctant to suggest that he was feeling more comfortable this week at being named to start against France for the second year in succession, but this time in his preferred No1 jersey.

The 26-year-old prop, who plies his trade at Gloucester, was handed the tighthead berth for this match last season after injuries had claimed Euan Murray and Geoff Cross, and though he took it on with fine Dundonian spirit, he still endured a painful, gruelling day in Paris.

He has never had it easy. Dickinson's debut came in the 2007 World Cup against New Zealand and one Carl Hayman, widely regarded as the best tighthead prop in world rugby, then and now. Then, after 13 caps, mostly off the bench, he was poised in October to extend his first consecutive run in the Scotland front row to three Tests

when he was injured eight days before linking up with the Scotland squad for the autumn series. He has since bounced back to form for his club.

"There's nothing more disappointing than getting excited about the November Tests and then getting an injury at the last minute," he said "but you certainly learn lessons and grow mentally as well as physically coming back. The pressure is still the same this year as last because the French are a good set-piece side and the challenges are the same whether I'm on the tighthead or the loose.

"I prefer the loose and I've played a lot more there. Last year I was last man standing and it was a disappointing game, but I've learned from it – it was still a good game to play in.

"You have to learn. My first game (against New Zealand] was a massive game to debut in, but I really struggled against Carl Hayman and learned a pretty harsh lesson that day. It showed what I had to do to get better."

SIX NATIONS TEAM GUIDES:

Scotland

England

France

Ireland

Italy

Wales