BLAKE’S HEAVEN
Kiwi gets first cap after one start for Edinburgh
VERN COTTER clearly sees something special in new ca p Hugh Blake that has, so far, escaped everyone else in Scottish rugby.
With j ust o ne start for Edinburgh Rugby and t wo appearances off the bench since he arrived in Scotland from his native New Zealand last year — a grand total of 122 minutes of rugby over a three-week period in February and March — it has been difficult to evaluate how good a player he is.
That will change tomorrow in Dublin when Scots f ans get their first proper look at the relatively inexperienced openside who qualifies f or Scotland through his grandparents.
He remains unknown to the average Scotland supporter — Cotter picked him for the Six Nations amid howls of protest and didn’t use him — but has clearly impressed the man who matters most in training over the summer and has now been given the chance to prove his World Cup credentials.
The back row has been reshuffled to give him his big chance, with f i rst- choice No 7 Blair Cowan moving to six to accommodate him. John Barclay, the most experienced openside in the Scotland squad, has to be content with a place on the bench while David Denton makes up the back row at eight.
Head coach Cotter clearly believes the 22-year- old is well capable of making his 31strong World Cup squad.
‘Hugh offers us a different form of play,’ said his fellow Kiwi.
‘He gets to the wide channels quicker and has a good step and carry. He’s working hard on his defence. He’s a young man coming through and has a good rugby pedigree from New Zealand.
‘We have to compete physically with Ireland, and the contact area will be important, because they are probably one of the best teams in the world there. I’m not going to get involved in the rules and regulations,’ said the head coach, who has signed a new contract which ties him to Murayfield until 2017, when asked about Blake’s Kiwi background.
‘I’ve never been much good at politics. I’ll just stick to my role and I feel if we have a whole group of quality players vying for positions, we’ll have to improve if they want to get selected.
‘If they’re available for Scotland, we’ll have a look at them.’
Asked if he felt Scottish, Blake said: ‘I do feel but I try and stay away from most of [the controversy]. I know where my roots are from — and they are from Glasgow, Scotland.
‘Finally now I have got the chance to show the public I can play rugby. Hopefully, after the wee ke n d those negative comments will stop.
‘Do I feel any extra pressure? Well if the team were not as welcoming as they are then it would be a lot tougher.
‘I just go out and represent the people I play rugby for. This weekend it’s the Scottish public. If I can prove to them [I’m good enough] and make them proud I’m sure everybody will be happy,’ added the flanker, who has switched to Glasgow.
‘I’m just so proud to be getting my chance. International rugby is the pinnacle and I’m just stoked to be involved. Vern made it pretty clear when everyone came together that everyone was on par, so we all have an opportunity to play a few games and my chance is this weekend. I’m going to be going as hard as I can.
‘It would mean everything to get a place in the World Cup squad. It’s what you dream of growing up.
‘I know I haven’t played much rugby lately but we’ve had some pretty physical sessions recently. Before that I was a little bit sceptical but we’ve worked hard and I’m ready to go,’ insisted Blake.
‘I came over here and initially couldn’t play the first few games for Edinburgh because I wasn’t registered for the European Cup. Then I got a head knock so I was on the back foot for the first six weeks. I got put on loan to Glasgow at the end of their season. I wasn’t expected to be thrown in, so I got to play sevens.
‘I saw this as a good opportunity to commit to Scottish rugby. It took away my eligibility to go back to New Zealand and it commits me to Scotland forever.’
Blake’s only disappointment is his parents won’t have enough time to fly over from Hamilton in New Zealand for the game.
‘It’s tough to get over with just a week’s notice. My parents Cath and Ed and everyone will be gathered at my uncle’s house to watch the game over the internet.
‘The good thing is I now know most of the boys. My first experience of the Scotland squad was the start of the Six Nations and I was bloody nervous.
‘ I was fortunate I ’ d been involved with Edinburgh and had a taste of Glasgow, too, and that made it easy this time round.
‘A few guys were quite sceptical when I first arrived but they understand the professional environment and that people come and go quickly.’
Meanwhile, Cotter has confirmed Chris Cusiter will only be included in his World Cup squad if there are injuries to any of his other scrum-halves Greig Laidlaw, Sam Hidalgo- Clyne and Henry Pyrgos.
‘A few guys were quite sceptical at first’