John Beattie's fine run of form hasn't just caught the eye of fans of Glasgow Warriors.
The Glasgow No.8 won back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in the Heineken Cup double-header with Biarritz. In addition, Scotland coach Frank Hadden has called John into his squad preparing for this season's Six Nations and he's forming a formidable back row unit for Glasgow along with Kelly Brown and John Barclay.

It's quite a turnaround for John after the disappointment of missing out on selection for Scotland's World Cup squad, and a sluggish start to the season with Glasgow that saw him lose his place to Steve Swindall.

John explains in this week's Glaswegian: "I'll be the first to admit that I was sluggish at the beginning of the year and I rightly lost my spot in the team.

"But it is an encouraging sign for the fans that there is strong competition for places in the squad that Stevie came in and did well and now I've come in for him, ensuring he will now have to bide his time.

"That's how it is in the back row unit because Glasgow - and the Scotland team as well - are spoiled for choice in that department.

"Myself, John and Kelly are playing well right now but we do so knowing guys like Stevie and Donnie Macfadyen will be tearing at the bit to get their places back after they are back to full fitness.

"I suppose at the start of the season my poor form might have had something to do with being left out of the World Cup.

"I don't know if the two are linked but I wasn't doing anything different - maybe simple things like the bounce of the ball have something to do with it because I certainly wasn't getting any luck in the first three games.

"Now it is going for me and my performances have improved - it is just little things like that which can affect you.

"Admittedly it does help when you're playing alongside guys who are on the top of their game as well.

"I know John from way back and we know each other's little quirks and we are honest with each other on the pitch - if something has to be said them one of us does it.

"Kelly has adapted to our way of working very quickly and his style of play gives us greater scope to have more of an impact.

"I've heard the 'Killer Bees' nickname - as well as the 'B-sharps' moniker - but it is nice that the fans hold the three of us in affection instead of thinking 'Christ, he's not picked Battie again'."

This article was posted on 24-Dec-2007, 11:37 by Hugh Barrow.