I nearly quit.. now I’m facing All Blacks
RUGBY GOING FOR BROKE Scots star Marfo feared for his career when old club went bust
JOHN HIGGINS claimed he felt like a “zombie” as he overcame a potential banana skin at the Shanghai Masters yesterday.
The four-time world snooker champion beat rising Swiss star Alexander Ursenbacher 5-2 in a heldover qualifier.
Over the past few weeks the Scots star has travelled to China and back to Coventry for last week’s Champion of Champions before arriving in Shanghai on Sunday.
Mark Selby was almost falling asleep at the table last week in England and Higgins last night said: “I felt like a zombie out there.
“I only arrived yesterday from the UK and I have just been in my bed. It’s good to win but the schedule is pretty tiring at the moment.
“This is probably the worst it has been for the players, from China to the UK, back to China, back to the UK and in China again.”
Fellow Scot Graeme Dott enjoyed a welcome return to form as he reached the last 32 with a 5-3 win over home favourite Xiao Guodong.
But Scottish youngster Chris Totten is out after he slumped to a disappointing 5-1 defeat to Jack Lisowski.
A high break of 15 was as good as it got for Totten as his English rival hit two centuries to progress.
World No.1 Selby won his heldover qualifier against fellow Englishman Ian Burns 5-2 while Ulsterman Mark Allen and two-time world champion Mark Williams of Wales also enjoyed wins. NEW Scotland star Darryl Marfo has revealed he was close to quitting rugby after his club went bust. But now Marfo is on the brink of achieving the ambition of every player – squaring up to the mighty All Blacks.
The Edinburgh prop picked up his surprise first cap in the dramatic autumn Test opener against Samoa. And as he stepped up preparations for the showdown with the world champions at Murrayfield on Saturday, Marfo reflected on much bleaker times in his career.
He said: “I was playing for London Welsh in the second grade of English rugby.
“It was then one of the most famous clubs in Britain – and last year it went into liquidation.
“I was handed my P45. It was hugely upsetting. The players and coaches had been working their hardest.
“I was forced to think about going down a different route in my life. I knew I was a decent rugby player but so much depends on supply and demand.
“Luckily for me, however, Bath were hit by injury problems and they quickly gave me a chance.
“I switched to Edinburgh at the start of this season – and just a couple of months ago I was well down the pecking order at Myreside. I’ve had my share of MATT TAYLOR is convinced he can plug Scotland’s gaps before the showdown with the All Blacks.
Samoa racked up five tries in their 44-38 loss at Murrayfield on Saturday. And defence coach Taylor said: “We need to improve – and my job is to get them up to take on the best team in the world.
“Some improvements are technical, others mean fronting up.
“There is a danger of talking about all the good things New Zealand can do.
“We have to focus on what we can do – and on improving two or three aspects.” fitness worries but now I’m benefiting from the misfortunes of others.
“Injuries at Edinburgh allowed me to show the Scotland coaches what I could do. Now I could have the opportunity to face New Zealand – and it doesn’t come much tougher. I’m not the kind of person who looks too far ahead. What will happen will happen.”
Born and raised in London, Marfo qualifies for Scotland through his mum Cheryl, from Ayr.
He added: “Mum headed south when she was 18, however I was always conscious of my roots and heritage north of the border. I would often be taken up to Ayr for holidays when I would stay with grandparents, aunties and uncles.
“I just loved being there – smelling the fresh sea air that was hugely different to a council estate in London.”
Meanwhile Jon Welsh could revive his big-stage career – two years after World Cup heartbreak against Australia at Twickenham.
The Newcastle prop was yesterday called up by Scotland boss Gregor Townsend after Willem Nel was ruled out the rest of the series with a broken arm.