Clubbing together a must for Martyn
BILL LOTHIAN
ANGUS MARTYN today urged his team-mates to set aside personal ambitions and ensure that Scotland get off to a winning start in the first-ever clubs international against Ireland at Donnybrook, Dublin, tonight.

The Boroughmuir flanker, below, says that, while the match can obviously be used as a stepping stone, selection is an honour in its own right and success can only come through players uniting behind the common cause.

He said: "The coaches have kept our game plan simple.

"Hopefully, allied to the understanding arising from a nucleus of players from Hawks and Boroughmuir, those basics will be enough to see Scotland through in a match that will be historic in its own right."

He added: "It is the aim of every player to better himself and I'm no different but we will all get sufficient buzz from the honour attached to turning out and I'm proud for both myself and Boroughmuir."

It could be a major task for the visitors to keep their focus entirely on the opposition though, with any outstanding performance destined to be picked up by television cameras broadcasting the match in Ireland.

Additionally, professional teams are guaranteed to be represented including Edinburgh Gunners, whose backs coach, Phil Smith, said today he had high hopes for several of the squad - including 26-year-old Martyn.

"Angus has trained a few times with the Gunners this season in addition to turning out occasionally in 2004-05 and is certainly one to watch, especially as our system allows for players developing at different ages.

"We are constantly on the look-out for talent and there are a number of players in the Scotland side worth taking a particularly close interest in.

"For example, I have heard good reports of the centre, Stewart Smith, since he returned to Glasgow Hawks from New Zealand, where he played at under-21 representative level with Waikato.

There is also a need to replace scrum half Rory Lawson who will move to Gloucester shortly."

Smith revealed that Jamie Blackwood, who misses out on tonight's match but has turned out for Edinburgh at European Cup level in the past, has been training with the Gunners this week alongside Watsonian centre colleague Brian Rennie.

"We are well acquainted with the excellent way Jamie has performed when turning out against Leinster and Glasgow in this season's Celtic League.

"For Brian it has been a chance to experience our training and, likewise, for us get a tighter look at what he has to offer.

"There are others who could make a push from our well-monitored club scene and, so far as scrum half is concerned, the way remains clear for Calum Cusiter to stake a claim.

"Another who is highly regarded is winger Mark Robertson of Melrose."

Both Cusiter and Robertson come with strong family credentials.

Cusiter is the brother of Lions scrum half Chris, while Robertson's father, Keith, was a key figure in Scotland's 1984 Grand Slam

This article was posted on 10-Mar-2006, 12:57 by Hugh Barrow.