Kevin Ferrie reports in the Herald

Graeme Morrison was a vastly experienced union international when he went toe-to-toe with then All Black newcomer Williams at Murrayfield in 2010 and, for all that Scotland were heavily beaten that day, he still regards the occasion as one of the best days of his career.

"Being able to play against the best in the world was always a real thrill for me, because you always want to challenge yourself against the very best," he says as he reflects on a day when his side suffered a 49-3 defeat. "A lot is made of facing the Haka and it really is special, but it is uplifting more than anything else. Obviously, they try to use it to intimidate to some extent but, when the crowd responds to it, the feeling it generates is immense."

No-one knows better than Morrison just why those involved tonight should savour their involvement in the first rugby league Test meeting between Scotland and New Zealand.

In an eight-year, 35-cap career which began with four meetings against Australia's Wallabies in his first five Test matches - he went on to play in wins over both Australia and South Africa - that Saturday afternoon in the autumn of 2010 was his sole appearance against New Zealand.

"I played once against the Maoris, but I got injured at bad moments a couple of times; that game against the All Blacks was the only time I played against them and, in spite of the result, it was a great experience," he said. It comes as little surprise that Williams, who has represented his country at league and union with some distinction while simultaneously pursuing a career as a professional heavyweight boxer, made quite an impression on Morrison.

The New Zealander had made his Test debut only a week earlier, in a win over England at Twickenham, and would go on to be man of the match that day as Morrison discovered just why he had such a formidable reputation coming into that fixture.

"He was very new to the game but he really made a mark in union in the relatively short time he was involved and there was a great deal of talk about him before the game," recalled the former Scotland centre. "We'd seen some footage and there was great respect for him because we knew he was a real athlete in the way that he had been able to switch codes and was also involved in professional boxing, so I've got huge respect for what he has achieved in all three. I remember for their first try Parksy [Dan Parks] and I had him and we scragged him but he still somehow managed to get a ridiculous off-load away to set up the score. I'm not even sure who it was that scored."

It was Hosea Gear, but the fact that the scorer's name has been forgotten while that sublime piece of skill is indelibly imprinted on the former international centre's memory perhaps tells its own tale.

His advice to his compatriots in seeking to deal with Williams then? "When we were looking ahead at the game, even in what was a great All Black team, he was an individual we targeted as being a threat and you do have to pay attention to that," said Morrison. "It's not a question of getting caught up in the hype; it's a matter of recognising the skills a player like that has and trying to deal with him. He is just another guy but he is a great rugby player.

"When you are up against a player like that it is really difficult because you want to go low to stop him but you also know that he's capable of getting the ball away so you have to deal with that away. They tend to tackle in numbers in league anyway though, so they will be preparing to do that," says Morrison.

Morrison's own Test career ended just last year, before injury stopped him playing altogether at the end of last season - his Glasgow Warriors team-mates saw him off in style by securing a vital win over Ospreys in his last appearance for the club - so he is well placed to offer advice on how to approach this opportunity.

Only now, after a weekend during which he watched a Scotland game for the first time since he stopped playing (he jokes that he did not dare go to Murrayfield because he has so much studying to do for forthcoming Chartered Accountancy exams) is he beginning to properly reflect on his 12-year professional career.

"It was difficult," he admits. "There are times when I really miss it and I would like to be out there with the boys but I was forced to retire through injury and I am lucky because it [the injury] is not something that is going to affect my quality of life so I have to look at it that way and it is nice to get up in the morning without having to hobble through the flat."

It only enhances his appreciation of how important big days are for sportsmen. "I always liked the look of league and fancied trying it at some stage but never got the chance," he says. "I've been following Scotland's progress. It is a massive achievement that they have managed to get to the quarter-finals. It will be a great experience for them which I hope they will go out and relish."

This article was posted on 14-Nov-2013, 07:56 by Hugh Barrow.