GRAHAM JUST HAS TO SHINE AGAINST ENGLAND

IF we can use the same words which are likely to follow Gary Graham for as long as he plays rugby, we’re going to ‘ **** ing love’ watching him turn out for Scotland. On two conditions. First, he’ll have to hit the ground running, tackling, rucking and mauling with all the intensity of a particularly vigorous extra from Braveheart. Blue face paint optional. He’ll also have to go a good ten per cent further than anyone else in Gregor Townsend’s squad — including the South Africans, Kiwis and assorted other adopted Scots — in order to prove his patriotism. And the second requirement? This is the clincher for a guy who famously declared his desire to play for England against Scotland, ‘make 1,000 tackles and shove it in their face’. Assuming he impresses sufficiently and consistently to be in the match-day 23 for the closing round of Six Nations fixtures next March, he absolutely must make his mark in the Championship finale at Twickenham. If young Graham is in search of any pointers, he could always watch footage of Ryan Wilson ‘interacting’ with Owen Farrell in the tunnel ahead of this year’s Calcutta Cup triumph at Murrayfield. His double reverse ferret to join up with the Scotland squad has already produced more entertainment than some recent Test matches. Yes, Wales and Australia, we’re looking at you. Son of Scotland international George, young Graham will be under extra scrutiny this week. And, assuming all goes well, you can just imagine the hype come England week next spring. Imagine the reaction if he misses even half a tackle. If Townsend has been persuaded to make this big recruitment pitch, of course, we can be pretty sure that the 26-year-old has some game. And that any questions over his commitment to the cause have been answered. The guarantee, surely, is that he won’t be found wanting for effort. Not against any nation. And so everyone involved in the Scotland set-up will be harbouring some slightly odd hopes for him. Namely, they’ll want Graham to make them all look very daft, terribly careless, for overlooking him in the first place. If he turns out to be a star, any red faces will be masked by those ear-to-ear grins. Love it. **** ing love it.