Geoff Cross always seems to have been the nearly man in his 26-cap career for Scotland, but he could be poised for a significant career boost in the most unlikely of circumstances.
The 31-year-old has barely started a game for Edinburgh this year but finds himself pressed into action as Scotland’s tight-head for the clash with France.
Behind WP Nel in the pecking order with his club, out of contract at the end of this season and regarded by some as low as fourth choice for the Scotland No 3 shirt, it seemed Cross might be heading back to medicine he’s a qualified doctor at the end of this season.
While circumstances have pitched the popular prop back into the starting team for Scotland, he’s seen the other side of things too often to be fooled by fortune.
“When I’ve played I think I’ve played well,” he said. “My job is to keep providing reasons to get picked. As ever, it’s important that I work on the things I’ve been brought in for, which is scrummaging, but there is also the stuff outside of that.
“If I do well enough and then I believe I will be able to challenge for a more regular place.”
Cross seized his chance in a crucial manner, his solidifying of the scrummage in Rome when he came on a couple of minutes before half-time being a significant factor in Scotland rescuing a win from 16-6 down away from home to a confident Italian side.
But even the circumstances of replacing Moray Low, who was in referee Steve Walsh’s doghouse at the scrummage in the first half, had an element of fortune, he points out.
“I just stuck to my processes that our coaches ask us to do,” he said when asked what he changed. “I cannot know whether I was the solution that the referee was looking for or whether what I did was sufficiently different from the guys who were on beforehand to change the outcome.
“What I know is that I came on and worked on the procedures that we go through with setting up right, with getting in a good position after the engage and working really hard. Certainly one thing that I enjoy doing when I come off the bench is being the fresh guy who brings energy. Everyone else is knackered and ruined, and you come on, fresh and keen, and that’s something I like.”
In the past, even with performances like that in Rome, Cross has often had to give way to Euan Murray’s return, whether it be from injury or his perennial friend and rival’s self-imposed absence for religious reasons. While this time it is Murray who will be on the bench, Cross has always been philosophical about it.
“I think the important thing is just to focus on what the selectors want, keep working at that and keep asking them how you’re doing,” he said. “So long as you are feeding back to them and they are feeding back to you, it remains a good and functional working relationship.
“You’re a tool for the selectors; if they choose not to use you, you have to go away and work with the coaches to provide them with a standard that will get you selected.
“You could go home and kick the cat and feel sorry for yourself, but those things won’t help you get picked. Working hard at getting better at what the coaches want from you is the only way.”
Cross wants to keep playing, but hasn’t had word from Edinburgh or anyone else for next season. I love playing rugby games, simple as that, and I’m really looking forward to this one,” he said. “My contract is up at the end of season, I haven’t arranged anything with Edinburgh and I haven’t arranged a contract with anyone else.
“I would agree that getting this chance is opportune. Watch this space.”