DAD’S THE WORD AS MAITLAND PROSPERS
Sean Maitland has dismissed the controversy around foreign players in the Scotland squad by i nsisting that he will be playing in his first World Cup as a tribute to his Glaswegian grandparents and dad.
World Rugby have l aunched a review of player eligibility, with a growing belief that the three-year resident rule will be extended. However, Maitland insisted that the inclusion of flanker John Hardie, who qualifies through his grandparents, and South african pair Josh Strauss and Willem nel, who qualified through residency, in a group of 10 born outside Scotland was of no concern to the players.
the former Canterbury Crusaders star, who joined Glasgow nearly three years ago, said: ‘i can understand where people are coming from, especially the old players who have worn the jersey — they deserve to have a moan — but rules are rules and every team’s doing it, so it doesn’t bother me.
‘People try to say i’m not Scottish and that’s their opinion, but my old man and my grandparents are from Glasgow and now we’re here (in Gloucester) it’s pretty special to think about that. Both my grandparents passed away so for me this is about representing them and my family. that’s really hit me now that we’re here.
‘One thing that Vern (Cotter) has done really well is take us all back to our roots, whether we’re born-andbred Scottish, or have c o me through the re s i dency r ul e or whatever; everyone is buying into the same picture and the World Cup theme, so it’s not an issue for us.
‘We have had a few videos during the warm-ups that get the passion up and the blood boiling a bit, and we had another one l ast night. But now it’s about the rugby. We’re playing for our country and all that matters is that we play good footy.’
Four years ago, the Rugby World Cup swept Maitland’s home country and the trophy was ultimately won by the hosts, and the enterprising back admits he had no thoughts then of being part of the next occasion, far less in the navy blue.
‘i had just come off the itM Cup season with Canterbury and was in thailand for much of the World Cup,’ he recalled. ‘i didn’t go to any of the games because i like watching on tV, but i never would have thought that i would have been in the next one playing for Scotland.
‘But here i am. Sometimes i have to pinch myself when i think about where i was four or five years ago and to think i’m here now preparing for a World Cup.
‘it’s great to finally get here because it’s been a long warm-up, since June 15 i think when we first got together, so it’s good to start thinking about playing some footy.’
On what the squad believed to be a realistic goal, he confirmed that they were trying not to look too far ahead, but all were agreed on where they wanted to get to.
‘We want to make the quarters,’ he said, ‘but we know it’s about taking it one game at a time and not looking too far ahead. Our 100-per-cent focus right now is Japan but, at the back of our minds, we know that we can get to the quarter-finals because we have a great, strong squad … but we have to take it one game at a time.
‘Japan are a strong team, quite structured. We played them a couple of years ago at Murrayfield and they gave us a bit of a scare so, if we’re not switched on, they will hurt us. ‘We’re certainly not taking them easy. they’re well coached by eddie Jones, have a few boys who play in Super Rugby and a few Kiwi boys who are playing over there as well. We just want to get out there now. ‘it’s getting exciting and, when i think about the last four years, i’ve no regrets about coming over. it was the best decision i’ve ever made. the World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and it’s great to be a part of it.’ another player who watched the 2011 tournament never dreaming of f eaturing i n 2015 is Maitland’s former team-mate at Glasgow, tim Swinson. However, after playing himself into contention, he believed that an ankle injury in June had quickly ruined the hope, which only heightened the emotion he felt yesterday at receiving his World Cup cap.
‘this is a childhood dream,’ he said. ‘it’s a huge honour to stand on the pitch for Scotland at any time but in such a huge international situation is even bigger, so my feelings right now are a combination of a lot of things coming together.’