Would be career highlight for English-born Low
to talk about me playing for Scotland, but my parents are delighted with my selection and back me 100 per cent, and I feel that he would have been very proud.”
At 6ft 6in tall and nearly 18 stones, Low offers a rare versatility to Johnson. He says he is equally comfortable playing in the second row and back row, and while enjoying the greater freedom of the No 6 jersey for London Irish this season he would have no qualms about stepping into the Scotland boiler-room.
With the likes of Jim Hamilton, Al Kellock, Richie and Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist and Tim Swinson already there, one imagines his form at blindside flanker is what has most caught the attention of Johnson and Vern Cotter. After Alasdair Strokosch, Rob Harley and No8/flanker Kelly Brown, Scotland start to run a bit thin on athletic and powerful ballcarrying ability, and Low’s form and experience, with 35 first- In our online video, Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg tells David Ferguson that he is still hopeful of being involved in the autumn Test series next month as he waits for a plaster cast to be removed from his arm team outings, 20 in the Aviva Premiership since his debut as a teenager, suggests that he may have something to add to the equation.
London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith spoke highly of the former basketball player, recently stating: “We produce a lot of good academy players because they get exposed to top-line rugby earlier. Guys like Gerard Ellis, Kieran Lowe and Jon Fisher have earned a lot of respect in the [first-team] group. Some of those guys are going to have a breakthrough season.”
Low is certainly proving that to be true. He will be near Scotland this weekend, if selected for the Premiership match at Newcastle, but he has not been guaranteed anything by Johnson, and acknowledges that while eager to feature in the autumn Tests he may have to wait until the Scotland A matches in 2014 and the Six Nations for an international debut.
He has reassured Johnson, however, that no matter how long he may have to wait he is now Scottish. “I’ve made my decision now to play for Scotland and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “There are a lot of great players with a lot more experience than me in this big training squad so I know it’s going to be really tough to get into a Test squad. But it’s great to be given the opportunity.
“There aren’t many guys that can play six and lock, so that’s a bonus for me I think, and I’m certainly going into the camp with the ambition to push on and try to become part of the autumn Tests.
“I’ve met Jim Hamilton before and spoken to Scott Lawson and other Scottish guys in England, and I played with Tom Heathcote coming through the England under-18s, and they’ve all told me how brilliant the setup is up there, and how special it is to play for Scotland and especially at Murrayfield.
“To me, it doesn’t matter that I played for England when I was younger,” he added, with typical candour. “I’m qualified for play for Scotland and I’ve been given the chance to join the national squad for training next week.
“Now it’s all about doing the best I can and trying to push on over the season to prove that I’m good enough to be considered. The World Cup in 2015 is a great aim for me now and I can’t wait to get involved.”