Gutsy Laidlaw ready to take on the world
GREIG LAIDLAW found himself at the lowest point of his career four years ago after being left out of Scotland’s squad for the 2011 World Cup.
Devastated not to be included, he was reduced to watching the action unfold on television.
‘Things could have gone two ways at that point,’ recalled Laidlaw yesterday. ‘I could have just faded away and let it get to me — or do what I did, which was put my head down and make sure I fought my way back into the Scotland set-up.
‘I’m a determined bloke and although I may not be the quickest or strongest, I’ve never been beaten for effort. I’m mentally tough and I had to be back then.
‘I was hugely disappointed not to be picked and was really low, but I’ve never been a quitter. I said to myself I’d get back into the Scotland team first of all and, if I was lucky enough to still be around, I’d make the 2015 World Cup squad.
‘I’m not taking anything for granted but when Vern Cotter names his training squad, I’d like to think I’m included.’
For the man who fought his way back to become skipper, that will be a foregone conclusion today — and also when the head coach cuts his squad from 40 names to 30 later in the year.
Despite fierce competition from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Chris Cusiter and one of Glasgow’s Pro12winning heroes Henry Pyrgos, Laidlaw is the man in possession of the scrum-half jersey and isn’t going to miss out on his second World Cup in a row.
His pe r f o r ma nc e s for Gloucester s i nce le a v i ng Edinburgh last summer merit his call-up alone. Throw into the mix his l eadership abilities and consistency with the boot and he has become one of Cotter’s first picks.
Laidlaw feels he is playing better than ever and says his game has improved since his move to the Kingsholm Stadium where he has been first-choice scrum-half all season alongside Welsh stand-off James Hook.
The highlight was helping Gloucester to victory over his former club in the European Challenge Cup Final, where his four penalties and one conversion proved crucial.
‘Coming here freshened me up and has improved my game,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘I’m not going to say it’s a higher standard than when I played in the Pro12 but maybe there is a bit more pressure to avoid relegation that heightens the intensity of every Premiership match. I feel I’m a better player and if I’m lucky enough to be named in the squad for the World Cup, I want to play my part.’
That would also help exorcise the demons after the team he captained were whitewashed in this year’s Six Nations.
The pain and embarrassment of t hat f i nal- day l oss to champions Ireland at BT Murrayfield was particularly hard to take for Laidlaw.
‘We have to learn from the experience and understand why we didn’t win a game,’ he said.
‘We weren’t as bad as results suggested but there’s no getting away from the fact we didn’t pick up a win and that still hurts. But I have faith that the players can bounce back in the warm-up games ahead of the World Cup.
‘There are top players in the Scotland squad, like all the boys from Glasgow Warriors who won the Pro12 trophy. That win will give all their players a big confidence boost and it couldn’t have come at a better time as far as Scotland are concerned.
‘Having that winning mentality is important going into the World Cup and the players involved will be buzzing when they come into the training camp.’
With Scotland’s first World Cup game against Japan at his home ground at Gloucester on September 23, he is desperate to be involved from the start.
‘It would be great if I got the chance to play in front of my own fans,’ he said.