GREIG IS THE CHOSEN ONE
Japanese supporters have taken Laidlaw to their hearts but the Scotland scrum-half won’t be distracted from the task in hand
THE Japanese media had come from far and wide to see ‘Mr Greig’, as the Scotland scrum-half is affectionately known in the country that has taken him to their hearts.
Indeed, there were more television crews and translators hanging on to Greig Laidlaw’s every word than there were when Gregor Townsend announced his Scotland team for the game against Ireland.
He has, quite bewilderingly, become one of the highest profile players at this World Cup. Quite a feat for someone who hasn’t even played a game yet.
So just why is the man from Jedburgh, who starts against the Irish in Yokohama today, such a cult hero here in the Far East?
‘I think it came from the last World Cup in 2015,’ said Laidlaw with a big smile on his face.
‘Japan had that tremendous victory against South Africa in their opening game and, while I can’t remember the numbers, a couple of million watched that match.
‘By the time they played us, and again don’t quote me on the numbers, the viewing figures in Japan had increased significantly even from that.
‘Fortunately, I had one of my better games for Scotland that day and we won and I think they remember me from that. All of this now stems from back then.’
Laidlaw is clearly enjoying his new-found fame in Japan, where his face is plastered across all manner of billboards and bunting.
So, too, are his team-mates, who have been ribbing him mercilessly over it in the land where sumo wrestling, baseball and football remain the three favourite sports.
‘Mr Greig is a hero wherever he goes in Japan,’ said his pal Stuart Hogg with a grin. ‘It’s been great to see. There has been a lot of support for Greig and for the Scotland team in general.
‘We’ve had some fun with him. Anytime we’re walking through shopping malls, we shout: “Mr Greig” when he’s about five yards in front of us. Everyone then turns around and mobs him. It has been good fun.’
Laidlaw knew something was up from the minute he got off the plane at Nagasaki Airport and was immediately asked for some autographs and a few selfies.
The adoration continued during Scotland’s training camp in the city, on the bullet train down to Tokyo and in the Japanese capital itself. In fact, it has never let up for the most famous Scotsman in Japan.
‘I seem to be a bit of a favourite, which is certainly more amusing to the boys than it is to me,’ said the Scotland No 9.
‘To be honest, it has been awesome. It’s been brilliant.
‘It’s obviously a newer country for rugby to come to which is part of the bigger picture, so it’s awesome to be in this part of the world with the pinnacle of the game here.
‘The people are really rising to the occasion and we want to be a big part of its success.’
Laidlaw, when asked what the usual poster boys of Scottish rugby like Hogg and Finn Russell were making of his superstar status, he replied jokingly: ‘They are probably playing it down but they’re probably pretty gutted, I would imagine.’
For all the fun Laidlaw is having, the serious work starts today in what will be, by his own admission, his final World Cup.
Now just a few weeks shy of his 34th birthday, he accepts he won’t be around in France in four years’ time, which is why he is determined to do well here in Japan.
‘It will be my last World Cup, that’s for sure,’ said the Scotland and Clermont scrum-half. ‘Any time you get to pull on the Scotland jersey, you saviour it.
‘When Gregor named the team to the boys for the Ireland game, I got excited. It’s the same excitement I got the first time I was picked.
‘There’s nerves and it all comes rushing back. It’s awesome to be involved here in the World Cup but I want to be involved in a successful team and that’s what I’m here to do.
‘The boys like myself have been given the opportunity and privilege to play and now it’s up to us to get the result against Ireland.’
Laidlaw is part of a Scotland team that has a record 630 caps between them — an average of 42 per man — with that level of experience giving him extra confidence that this team are streetwise enough to beat an Irish side who go into the tournament ranked No1 in the world.
‘There’s an opportunity in front of us and that’s the way I look at this game,’ he said. ‘I’ve been involved in this team for a long time and the maturity of some of our players in key positions is massive.
‘You speak about some of the Irish guys being important to them, but in our team now to have guys like Finn Russell, our captain Stuart McInally, WP Nel, shows we’re starting to piece together guys with a bit of experience.
‘We certainly have the drive in us to do well in this World Cup. We’re pushing hard, our standards are high and that’s all you can hope for at this stage. We’ll look to then put our best foot forward as soon as the first ball is kicked.’
Although Stuart McInally took the captaincy away from him over the past year, which saw him demoted to vice-captain, Laidlaw is full of praise for the way the hooker has led the team in the build up to the World Cup.
Indeed, he believes the Edinburgh man can remain in the role for years to come.
‘He has been excellent,’ said Laidlaw. ‘As Rambo (McInally) says himself, he does his leading out on the field and he certainly does that. He’s got the full backing of the team and we respect him.
‘It’s been good just hearing a fresh voice, someone who is young and newer to the role. He’s going to do a fantastic job both now and for years to come.
‘It’s up to us that the leaders round about him, myself included, make sure he gets the support he needs against Ireland.’