Despite Double success, things ain’t plane sailing
Sean Maitland’s taking nothing for granted.
The Saracens winger ended last season in fine style, doing the European Champions Cup and English Premiership double – scoring in the latter final for good measure.
Add nine tries in 35 caps for Scotland – and a Lions tour under his belt – and you’d think he’d have already looked out his passport for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
But the 30-year-old insisted: “A lot of people have been asking: ‘ You looking forward to Japan?’, but I tell them: ‘I’m just trying to get on the plane first.’
“It’s was a great end to the season for me. It’s better, obviously, to win a couple of trophies than lose and then have four or five weeks to be gutted.
“I got back home to New Zealand, took the family over, my two girls, and it was good to get three weeks there.
“Then to come back and rejoin the Scotland boys has been ideal.”
Some players might find it hard to get motivated after such a massive high, but Maitland said: “It’s part and parcel.
“For me, setting personal goals helps press those reset buttons, and it’s a massive motivation to get on that plane to Japan.”
Ma it land’ s experience might get him the nod over tartan tyros such as Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham, and he conceded: “I guess it could. It’s really up to the coach on how he sees the make-up of his squad.
“In reality, 31 isn’t a lot of players and they talk about
having guys who can cover multiple positions. So it will all hinge on the warm- up games coming up and how we all get on.
“I over heard Tommy Seymour talking about it, in terms of everyone pushing each other, especially in the back three where there’s a lot of competition.
“You look across the squad and it’s pretty competitive, so it definitely helps you to have these younger boys coming through. It certainly helps the likes of me and Tom as we’re into our 30s now.
“It goes for everyone in the back three – maybe not Stuart Hogg – but World Cups and all that, it pushes you.”
Another Sarrie hoping to be on the plane to the Land Of The Rising Sun is Duncan Taylor, who’s had an injuryplagued two years.
As the old song goes, if it wasn’t for bad luck, the centre would have had no luck at all. The fact he’s battled his way back into Gregor Townsend’ s preliminary squad says a lot about his mental strength.
“Absolutely 100%,” agreed Maitland. “I can’t imagine what he’s had to go through over the last couple of years. But being around him most of that time, he’s such a positive person.
“He never seems to get too down and it’s just great for him to be back.
“Duncan’s looking really good, looking sharp, and it’s great to see him getting back because we all know how talented he is. Hopefully, he can stay fit and get some game time.”