We’re not just here to get a tan, insists Price

ALI PRICE is adamant he and his Scotland team-mates won’t follow the example of the British and Irish Lions by making a sluggish start in their first tour game. Warren Gatland’s side looked badly out of sorts as they struggled to beat a scratch Provincial Barbarians outfit at the weekend just three days after arriving in New Zealand. Their poor showing was put down to arriving in the country too late, which led to jet lag and also a lack of proper time to prepare for the fixture. Although they managed to beat the Barbarians 13-7, being picked for the first game didn’t help the chances of full Lions Test selection for Scottish trio Stuart Hogg, Greig Laidlaw and Tommy Seymour. Price, however, insists the Scots will hit the ground running as their preparations for the match against Italy here on Saturday have been spot-on. ‘We have a big game to win and as Gregor (Townsend) said to us, we’re not here to get a tan,’ said the 24-year-old scrum-half, who is set to start ahead of Henry Pyrgos and Sean Kennedy. ‘We get time off this week, but we have to be wary because there is a bigger prize at the end of it which is the game against Italy. ‘We want to start the tour strongly and know the importance of doing that against the Italians, with games against Australia and Fiji to follow. ‘The amount of time we have just spent with each other will help as will the work we will continue to do until kick-off. ‘Off the pitch, we are doing everything we can to get to know the details of the way we all play, so that when we are tired and it is hot against Italy we know our roles to the extent they become second nature. ‘We have come out here to win all three games under a new head coach and truly believe we can do that. Things start on Saturday against Italy and there is no reason why we can’t get the win. We have been very well prepared.’