Three ruled out of clash with France

Former Dunfermline RFC youth player hopes to pin down regular starting slot

Scotland will be forced into one change but denied the chance to make two more as they prepare for the second match of the NatWest 6 Nations against France at Murrayfield on Sunday, writes Steve Scott.

Wing Byron McGuigan limped off in Cardiff with a hamstring injury and won’t be fit for this weekend, having returned to his club Sale Sharks for rehabilitation.

A statement from the Scotland camp also confirmed that Richie Gray and Duncan Taylor had not rejoined the squad after missing the first two weeks of training with injuries, and will therefore not be available for the French test.

Gray, who has been missing for 10 months due to back surgery, but was ruled out of the first week with a calf problem having returned to action with his club Toulouse, is staying in France to complete his rehab.

Taylor, who missed the entire Autumn Test campaign, is still under examination for concussion issues at Saracens and has not joined up with the squad.

Murray McCallum was one of the few Scots with cause – and justification – to be pleased with his weekend’s work in Wales but he plans to make his future international memories a whole lot better.

The 21-year-old former Dunfermline RFC youth player came on as a replacement for his debut for the final 20 minutes of the 34-7 defeat to Cardiff and while the game was long gone, he still put his all into the effort.

“It was disappointing day the way the result went and it certainly wasn’t exactly how we wanted to start the championship,” said the Edinburgh prop.

“But I was delighted to get out there and start hopefully a long career of international performances.

“The message is still the same when you come on in situations like that; just bring energy. Go on, do your basics well, try to get the boys going who had been on there for a while, try to up their energy and keep them going through to the final 80 minutes.

“You’ve got to want to go on and make a difference. You still have to do your job, do what you can as an individual, give it your all and try to finish the game on a positive. You can’t just stop.”

McCallum’s call came early due to the injuries to clubmate WP Nel and former school buddy Zander Fagerson and the suspension to Simon Berghan, but he’s keen to go again on Sunday against France if called upon.

“Who knows, it’s a whole new game this week,” he continued.

“Back at home at Murrayfield is a different animal, hopefully.

“We’ve just got to club together, see what changes are made and go again. We’re all one team and have the same goal, and we’ll all lift each other.”

Meanwhile coming to the touchline as he prepared to replace Jon Welsh in front of a 74,000 crowd bigger than his home town was all he’d imagined growing up.

“It’s what I’ve dreamed of since I was a little boy,” he said.

“Exactly how I’d imagined it, just brilliant. Mind-boggling in fact to look around and see all that, it was a great experience. Was I intimidated? Not at all. I relished the noise and atmosphere, loved it.”

It was nearly three times as many as Murray had played in front of before, and despite his tender years he couldn’t help but think of those who’d helped him get to the biggest stage.

“My dad Scott has done heaps for me, taking me to Dunfermline to start with, and being all around the age group in the Caledonia region,” he said.

“Training could be as close as Kirkcaldy or it could be Stirling or up to Aberdeen, so it’s some petrol he’s put in over the years, and I’m thrilled he was here today.

“Also all the club and school coaches from Paul Salt, Ian Simmons, Bob Sneddon through to Andy Henderson when I went to Strathallan, he was a huge influence on me.”

And McCallum will play either side of the scrum if he’s asked.

“I think people have me as a loose head because I played there for Scotland Under-20s, but that was basically to get myself and Zander into the same team,” he said.

“I played tight head all the way through school so I would say the transition has always been there.

“I’m happy with the way tight head has progressed and I always have loose head in the bank.

“WP Nel has been brilliant since I came in from the Academy, he’s helped me heaps. First playing against him as a loose head and then watching him as a tight head, then seeing what he does.

“It’s been great experience learning from him and from Alasdair Dickinson at Edinburgh.”