Chris Cusiter admitted he cut a sad figure in his kitchen after a phone call telling him he wasn’t wanted by Scotland a month ago, but the scrum-half is back in the RBS 6 Nations squad and determined to stay.
The 32-year-old from Aberdeen got the dreaded call from attack coach Duncan Hodge prior to the announcement of the Six Nations squad informing him that his services would not be required.
Instead Vern Cotter wanted to go with Greig Laidlaw, Henry Pyrgos and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne for the scrum-half role, and all three of them had something the 70-times capped former British and Irish Lion lacked.
“Duncan said it was a close, tough call, and goal kicking came into it from what I understand,” he said after being recalled to the squad yesterday. “Greig, Henry and Sam are good goal-kickers, I am not but I’m not used to being judged on that.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve been left out on form and it hurt a little bit. I stood in the kitchen when I took the call and I just sat there for about 45 minutes, thinking it’s not much fun getting dropped.”
“Cus” is big and experienced enough to know that time will eventually catch up with him and there is greater competition than ever, but still feels he has a lot to offer.
“I would never take it for granted but I thought I’d make the training squad after playing in November,” said the Sale Shark. “You quickly have to come to terms with it. It’s helped being down in England away from it a little bit, I played quite a lot of games this year. I thought, well, if they aren’t going to pick me on that then I have done all I can.
“Things move on. I am 32 and there are not that many guys playing international rugby who are above thirty. But if you are fit and playing well and regularly you always think you have a chance.
“There was a lot of competition to make the match squad. I saw Sam in January and I thought he was playing really well. He has got real pace and real talent and I knew he would come through at some point, I was just hoping it would not be when I was still around!”
Yet Cusiter still feels he has much to offer the team before this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Italy his input in the final minutes of the fixture last year in Rome was crucial in Scotland’s last gasp victory and looking ahead.
“Sam is going through his concussion protocol so they needed cover. I could just be here for two days but it is nice to try and get up to speed so if for whatever reason I get involved, I am ready.
“It is still a real goal of mine to play in the 6 Nations and to make the World Cup. For me, it is always helped to have that underdog thing going on.
“So not making the squad, I thought ‘right, I’ll tell you what, I’ll play as well as I can and you have to pick me’. I was pretty disappointed for a couple of days, but it does strengthen you your resolve for sure.
“If you are around long enough in this game then you will have disappointments and setbacks. I’ve had it with injuries and obviously with selection at times. You’ve just got to get back on the horse and be determined to get back involved.”
The Scots squad recalled four other players in addition to Cusiter, bringing back both their previously injured No 8s Adam Ashe and David Denton, while covering the loss of Gordon Reid and Jon Welsh by including Alex Allan and Moray Low.
Ashe (neck) and Denton (calf) were the first and second choice No 8s in November but the young Glasgow Warrior hasn’t played since the All Black test while Denton was injured in the week prior to the 6 Nations opener against France.
Allan (22) won his first cap during the summer while Low, from Torphins, has won 29 caps but hasn’t been considered since he moved to Exeter from Glasgow in the summer.