Set for a Kiwi cracker
Brendan Laney might be thousands of miles away in Auckland but his eyes will be firmly on Murrayfield on Saturday when the mighty All Blacks come calling.
The famous “kilted Kiwi” – who made his debut for Scotland just 10 days after arriving in the country in 2001 – can’t wait to see Gregor Townsend’s side go head to head with the best team on the planet.
And he reckons New Zealand wi l l do wel l to keep close tabs on Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell in the Autumn Test.
Full-back Laney qualified to play for Scotland through his Glaswegian grandmother and after his debut against the All Blacks went on to earn 20 caps.
Ahead of New Zealand’s latest visit to Murrayfield, the 43-year- old said: “It is brilliant to see my old team- mate Toony now leading the coaching with Scotland.
“He is a good fella who was a real heads-up player and reacted to what was in front of him on the pitch.
“Coaching was something he was always going to head in to as he was very much leading the way Scotland played and the tactics in our day. He has a good way when it comes to communicating with players.
“Hogg and Russell are both really exciting players who have been outstanding for club and country over the last few years.
“It has been magic to watch some of thei r attacking skills and watch them come on as players at this level. Hopefully they will be around for a long time to come and can help Scotland achieve what they are capable of achieving.
“The Scotland players go into any Test believing they can win and the guys are out there to get results so this one will be no different.
“I think and hope it will be a cracking match between two countries close to my heart.”