Hungry Morrison aims to be permanent fixture in group games

SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson made wholesale changes to his teams for the two World Cup warm-up games, and is expected to do the same over the four group matches in the tournament itself. Given the rigours of Test rugby a degree of player rotation may appear inevitable, but Graeme Morrison, for one, believes it would be feasible to turn out in the full quartet of matches.

After missing this year’s Six Nations Championship through injury, the Glasgow centre was the only player to start against both Ireland and Italy in the warm-up matches at Murrayfield last month.

His return to the international arena has left him hungry for more action, and, speaking from Australia yesterday, he insisted he would be capable of playing against Romania, Georgia, Argentina and England.

“I don’t see why not,” Morrison said. “That’s what I want to do and that’s what I’m aiming to do.

“Every time Scotland play I want to play – especially in the first game of a World Cup.

“Obviously it was difficult missing that Six Nations. I felt I was playing consistently well, so it was pleasing that Robbo picked me for both those games.”

Morrison, who turns 29 next month, is all the more keen to maximise his involvement in this World Cup after missing the final cut when then Scotland coach Frank Hadden named the squad for the last tournament, held in France four years ago. “It’s been an extra long wait for me,” he said. “I feel that this World Cup I’m in a far better place.”

The whole squad are in a good place, literally as well as metaphorically, according to the Glasgow back. “We’ve been acclimatising and getting used to the different time zone,” he said. “It’s been pretty relaxed. It’s a new experience for a lot of the guys and it’s a great place to be at.

“It’s a resort with a beach-style swimming pool. It’s winter here, but I got burnt today. It’s about 20 minutes from Surfers Paradise – Canada are staying there, but we’re the only team here.

“We’re all really familiar with each other – the core of the squad has been the same for the last couple of seasons. We’re a tight-knit group and it’s been consistently good. It’s always good, light-hearted fun. Nearer the first game there will be a lot of nervous energy floating around but, at the moment, it’s all pretty laid-back.”

Still, while Morrison and his team-mates feel relaxed at present, they are also well aware that it is now only a matter of days before they begin what for many of them could be the highlight of their careers. “It really hit home on the flight. I was sitting with Max Evans and I said it felt pretty surreal that after 12 weeks together as a squad we were finally going to the World Cup.

“We were pinching ourselves. It’s fantastic to be with the guys and to be able to relish such a situation.”