Scots leave with optimism
Scotland’s rugby team set off on a two Test mini-tour of South Africa today in confident mood, despite injury doubts hanging over two important players.
Team captain Jason White did not train this morning after feeling a twinge in his back while playing touch at the start of the session.
White has had trouble with his back throughout his career and the player is confident this latest injury will not keep him out of action when Scotland play the first of their first Test matches against the Springboks in Durban next Saturday.
He explained: “It’s an old recurring problem, it must be about the 10th time I’ve done it, and it is very frustrating to do it again just before sitting on a plane for 12 hours.
“But it is not too serious and I’m sure it will clear up in the next few days.”
A more pressing concern is with fellow back-row player Allister Hogg, who pulled his hamstring during Scotland’s 66-19 defeat of the Barbarians on Wednesday.
John Beattie, the 20-year-old Glasgow back-rower, was yesterday removed from the Scotland under-21 squad and drafted into the senior squad as cover for Hogg, who has become a key man for Scotland since making his debut against Wales in 2004.
National team coach Frank Hadden said: “Obviously it was an extremely difficult decision but it was the one we felt we had to make given Hogg’s situation.
“He has made progress and if he keeps making the progress he has made he will make the first Test, but there is always a chance that there will be a setback along the way and we couldn’t risk that happening.
“But I’m delighted John Beattie is coming with us because this is a really huge developmental opportunity for him.
“He has got an outside chance of making the World Cup in 2007 so this is the start of him getting used to the players alongside him.
“He will stay until after the first Test and then, if everything is all clear at that point, he may join the under-21s.”
Meanwhile, Beattie confessed to having mixed emotions about his call-up as he said: “It was a bit of a surprise.
“I was on my way to the airport before flying to France for the under-21 World Cup when I got the phone call.
“Obviously I’m delighted to be getting this opportunity, but it is disappointing I’ll miss the under-21 game against Australia and probably the England match as well.”
The good news for Scotland is that Nathan Hines has joined the squad in London last night.
Perpignan, his club side in France, lost in the semi-final of the play-offs for the French championship on Friday.
Had they qualified for the final, Hines would have been required to stay in France for that match – which takes place next weekend – which would have meant the second-row missing the first Test.
Having watched his side demolish the Barbarians at Murrayfield on Wednesday, before seeing South Africa look less than impressive in their 30-27 victory over a World Select XV yesterday, Hadden said spirits were high as his team prepared to play the team ranked number two in the world.
He added: “South Africa are obviously formidable opposition, they won the Tri-Nations two years ago and they have beaten New Zealand in each of the last two seasons.
“But Wednesday served a huge purpose for us in terms of self belief.
“I think we’ve got the underdog status for next Saturday, and rightly so - but we’ll be underdogs with a bit of bite and if we get everything right on the day then we are confident that we can do something special.”
