Morrison's open and shut case for Scotland

FIVE NATIONS FOCUS: Flanker praises Hastings as inspiration in rediscovery of rugby nous north of the border. Barrie Fairall reports `If we're given time, it'll just get better and better. We've all got a bit of faith in each other'

Iain Morrison could never be accused of not putting things in the right perspective. When Scotland tackle Wales at Murrayfield tomorrow, the flanker, one of that neglected breed - a genuine openside, will have red jerseys only in his sights, keeping thoughts both of a possible showdown with England for the Grand Slam and the forthcoming World Cup buried.

Which is as it should be bearing in mind the winning habit has only recently been reacquired by Scotland after a dismal run. That first victory in Paris since 1969 was, of course, heady stuff, but Morrison and company do not intend having their heads in the clouds when the Welsh come calling. Dour Scots? No, just a sensible note of caution, having trudged so many miles along rugby's low road.

Morrison, a money broker in the City of London, sums up the feelings in the Scottish camp with a clarity of thought that goes with his profession. "When we were going through that run without a win the morale was never that low because we knew we weren't as bad a team as we were being depicted. We lost a few matches by very small margins that perhaps we should have won, but we were never that depressed.

"Similarly, now that we've had three victories in a row we don't think we are as good as some of the papers have been saying. South of the border it's been a bit more low key, but up north some of the press have really gone to work. We're just keeping our feet on the ground. It's a building process. We have quite modest goals for this season. We're trying to play each match better than the last and if we play better at Murrayfield this weekend than we did at the Parc des Princes I suspect that will be good enough to beat Wales, but we're by no means taking that for granted."

The London Scot has painful memories of his last meeting with the Welsh. Last season at the Arms Park, the pack leader departed after 18 minutes with a fractured leg. Indeed a stream of injuries have denied him the chance of touring with Scotland other than as a member of the squads contesting the Dubai and Hong Kong sevens. You can see why Morrison, who wins his 10th cap on Saturday, likes to take one game at a time. "The Welsh match," he said, "is an end in itself."

But there has been a dramatic change in Scottish fortunes. "It's good to get into a winning way and the fact that we played against a somewhat weakened Canadian side was good for us. After that, the forwards played quite well in the second half against Ireland and then again Gavin Hastings is simply inspirational at the moment.

"That's the one thing that makes me really angry about the press. Gavin's had some bad games and that's fine, but the press didn't say that. They said he was too old and had lost his pace, which was never true. He might look ponderous when he's lying up flat and not hitting the line at pace because at around 15st and 6ft 2in he's too big to jink round anyone. But when we do the tests he's one of the fittest of all the backs. So don't say that he is over the hill. He's outstanding."

The Scots, meanwhile, have been looking closely at their game. "There was the realisation that forwards have to do much more than just win set- piece line-outs. Now we've got a fairly athletic pack with no donkeys in it and everybody can handle the ball. We can take it up to the gain line and break through, just like England, who are using Rodber and Clarke for the same purpose. Forwards have got to do so much more in breaking down the first line of defence.

"It's not that we don't ruck any more, but we realised the shortcomings of rucking whereby as soon as the ball goes to the deck the opposition fan out to defend it. It's a matter of having more than one arrow in your quiver."

Morrison, though, is a bolt out of the blue in comparison with some of the heavyweights who nowadays patrol the openside.

"I'm as fit as I've been for a very long time. I've done a lot of work in the gym. Actually, I don't feel as if I'm playing quite as well as I did a couple of years ago when I had a full season. Looking at the game in France two years ago makes me think I haven't played as well since and to be honest with you I've been a bit disappointed with my performances this season. But it is picking up and certainly the fact that the front five are going so well gives me that extra yard which means I can get away quickly. In the French game I was out in the backs an awful lot because we knew they were going to run it from all sorts of places."

Morrison is now part of an international back row with a common history. Each member has played for Cambridge University. "I know Rob Wainwright well enough, but Eric Peters I've only really met this year,'' he said.

"If we're given time, it'll just get better and better. We've all got a bit of faith in each other, but I don't think we're quite au fait with each other's game yet so there's a lot of improvement that can be done there in terms of linking to get some handling and running going."

Tomorrow will simply be another stage of the development, and Morrison, 32, naturally, has a clear view of what he expects.

"Neil Jenkins is not renowned as a running fly-half, but he controls the game quite well and kicks well, positionally and for goal. We've got to be very disciplined and play the game in their half. I'm not going to win a lot of line-outs, but if I can snaffle a couple of turnovers then it might make a difference. It's having a bit of savvy really." Of which this genuine openside has plenty.