Birthday boy Brown finds reasons to be cheerful
Captain Kelly feels stronger after toughest six months of his career
KELLY BROWN celebrates his 32nd birthday today. Unlike Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, however, he won’t be throwing a hissy fit if his team-mates don’t make a big fuss. In fact, the back-row forward would be delighted if they forgot it was his special day altogether.
‘Please tell everybody I’m just 29,’ joked 63-times-capped Brown, who is set to captain Scotland against Canada in Toronto next Saturday.
‘Being well into my 30s now leaves me open to the younger guys telling me that I am really old, so I’ll keep my birthday as quiet as I can, thank you.
‘I’m certainly not going to make a big deal of it and, if I don’t get an impressive present or a cake from the boys, I’m not going to act like Yaya Toure and get all upset.’
It was good to see Brown laughing and joking again after the most turbulent six months of his rugby career, during which he experienced more crushing lows than dizzying highs.
His rollercoaster ride began at the start of the Six Nations when he was proud to be named by Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson as his captain for the opening match against Ireland.
But, in a major personal embarrassment, Brown was hauled off after just 56 minutes then dropped for the next two matches against England and Italy.
He was reinstated to captain the side against France and Wales but, again, he was left embarrassed as Scotland lost both matches, the most humiliating defeat being the 51-3 reversal in the Millennium Stadium after Stuart Hogg was sent off after just 22 minutes.
After the Six Nations, Brown hoped to raise his spirits and find some success with his club side Saracens and, for a while, they were on course for a Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership double.
But they fell at the last hurdle in both competitions, losing the European Final to a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired Toulon team and the domestic play-off final to a late try from Northampton Saints in extra-time.
Within 24 hours of the Aviva Premiership final defeat, a crestfallen Brown was on the first flight from London to Houston to link up with the Scotland squad.
By the time he arrived in Texas, he was in a much more positive frame of mind and in what he describes as ‘Scotland mode’.
Although he was rested for the match against the USA, he has declared himself fit and ready to face the Canadians and could also feature the following week against Argentina in Cordoba.
Lesser players would have had their confidence knocked by having to endure such a turbulent time but Brown remains confident that the next six months of his rugby career will be better than the previous six.
‘These past few months have been interesting, to say the least, and I like to think I’ve learned a lot as a player and a person,’ he said.
‘It has not just been rugby lessons I have learned, it has been life lessons, as well. When you are given challenges and setbacks, it is how you respond to them that matters and I feel that, on the whole, I’ve responded well.
‘Overall, I don’t think one thing was any worse than the other. Everyone has challenges in rugby and life in general general, but I suppose I have had just a couple more this year.’
Having a new coach in charge of Scotland has given Brown renewed focus as he realises that everybody is on trial in Vern Cotter’s first few games. It is now up to him to impress the New Zealander as there is no guarantee he will be kept in the team, let alone handed the captaincy on a permanent basis.
‘Everybody in the squad knows they have to step up to the mark and play well when they get the chance because we have a new coach who will make up his own mind on who he wants to play,’ said Brown.
‘First and foremost, I want to play f for Scotland and I’m not naive enough to think that I can stroll into the side. I have to earn that right.
‘It won’t be easy as the competition f for places is intense and, although I h have only been working with Vern Cotter for a short while, I know what he is looking for from me.
‘As a coach, he is very intense and very honest. He certainly doesn’t pull any punches, says exactly what he thinks and what he feels needs to be said.
‘As for being captain, that has been a an added bonus for me through playing for Scotland and the ultimate honour. As a child, I always wanted to play for Scotland and thought I could, but I never thought I could captain my country as well.
‘It is something I am, obviously, i incredibly proud of but my focus is on making sure that I work hard and get in the team. After that, it is up to someone else to make the decision on who is Scotland captain.’
Cotter has already dumped some players the wrong side of 30 — such as Alastair Kellock, Euan Murray and Nick de Luca — from his long-term plans and has picked only six players in that age bracket for the North America tour.
Despite that, Brown isn’t worried that his age will count against him as he believes he is as fit as he has ever been and is holding down a starting place in a very good Saracens team.
‘Although age could be a factor in
selection selection, it is something that I and the other older players can’t control, so there is no point worrying about it,’ he continued. ‘I still feel in great shape and have been setting some personal bests in the gym.
‘I would say us older guys are the same as the younger ones in that we want to work hard and keep improving and play well. If we can do that, then these selection issues will take care of themselves.
‘I certainly don’t intend to retire any time soon and would like to play for Saracens and Scotland for a few more years yet and, hopefully, represent them next year in the World Cup.
‘I get inspiration from players like Nathan Hines, who will be playing for Sale Sharks next season at the age of 37 and is still going strong.
‘If I am selected to play against Canada on Saturday, Saturday then that is the first step towards me making my mark under our new coach.’
Brown has already done his homework on the Canadians and, while his team-mates prepared for the USA match, he has been in his room going over DVDs of Canada’s previous performances.
‘I’ve looked at them a little bit this week and they have some really good athletes and are a tough and proud side,’ he said. ‘They have a lot of tough men and Jamie Cudmore of Clermont Auvergne is a good example. You will struggle to find a tougher man playing rugby.
‘Canada will be a team of guys like him. They will be very intense and I’m sure that they will see us as a chance to really take on a Six Nations side and win, so we have to be at our best against them.’