Grame Morrison, the Glasgow Warrior's centre, is relishing the challenge of containing the Welsh attack in Scotland's opening RBS Six Nations clash.

"Our defence is going to have to be at the top of our game", he said, "but we are geared up to take them on."

Morrison will be partnering Edinburgh rival Ben Cairns in the centre. Both, especially Morrison, are tough customers in the midfield and although Welsh favourite Gavin Henson picked up an injury in training which keeps him out of the game, his replacement, Tom Shanklin is, as Morrison pointed out, not exactly a soft touch.


That may be why Morrison and Cairns kept out the Evans brothers who have been such a potent force for Glasgow this season in what some saw as a surprise selection.

Morrison was unperturbed by the controversy. "People will always have going to have their opinions," he said. "The fact that people can have such opinions reflects the fact that Scotland has strength in depth."

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has left out other big points scorers as well, with dead-eyed kicker Chris Paterson on the bench and fly-half Dan Parks out of the 22 altogether.

Morrison was also celebrating having his Glasgow contract renewed until 2011. 'It's an exciting time to be at Glasgow", he said, referring to what was undoubtedly the high point of the Glasgow professional team's existence, their recent defeat of Toulouse in France.

The former Dollar Academy school boy has played over 100 games for the Warriors since moving up form Glasgow Hawks.

This article was posted on 7-Feb-2009, 14:59 by Hugh Barrow.