Ruaridh Jackson would have played tight-head prop just to get back on the field in a competitive game, so his first Scotland start at full-back against Ireland today is no big deal.
After 11 months of painstaking rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction, the Aberdonian wins his 25th cap at 15 rather than his accustomed fly-half slot, although the flexibility in the game plan should see him at first receiver quite often at the Aviva Stadium this evening (kick-off 5pm).
Just to be in the mix for a World Cup place is good enough for Jackson, although he knows he’s behind in the pecking order to Finn Russell, Duncan Weir and now, it seems, today’s starter Greig Tonks for his preferred role.
But having “wrecked” his knee in only his second start for Wasps he was on a one-year deal but has been given a two-year extension since Jackson realises he’s starting from the bottom again.
“Really, I just can’t wait to get back on the pitch,” he said. “I definitely didn’t think when I came into camp I’d be getting my first runout at full back but everyone’s been interchanging in camp, and I should be relatively comfortable.”
Jackson played for Scotland at 15 as a replacement against the USA in Houston on last year’s summer tour, but has only made one start there in the last few years in one of his final games for Glasgow but given his year on the sidelines, anywhere in the team will do.
“It was so innocuous, no contact, just a change in direction and I felt something actually go `pop’,” he said of the injury. “I’ve had little knee injuries before and I knew it was serious. Turns out it was pretty similar to Pete (Horne) when he did his.
“It was a long process and it was tough being on the sidelines. But we’ve had a good camp, I’ve had competitive situations here and the knee feels really solid. There’s no worry about re-injuring it, I’m feeling very confident about it.”
Having got here now, Jackson knows he has to be careful not to reach for something spectacular to impress the coaches.
“I really just have to focus on my role and do it to the best of my ability,” he said. “I think myself and Tonksie will interchange a bit and the coaches have said, no promises, that they’ll try to get me some time in the game at 10 which would be great.
“But the biggest thing is not to force it. Obviously I want to impress, but I can do that by doing the simple things right, not by forcing my hand, trying too many things and making errors that could snowball.”
Jackson and tonight’s team, featuring several fringe players who could be battling for their place on the bus to the first RWC game in Gloucester, are well aware of the need to help Scotland get a lift even if the result is not of primary importance.
“It’s a massive challenge, Ireland had a great 6 Nations and carried that form into last week as well.
“Speaking to the guys they were bitterly disappointed with the last game of the Six Nations and the atmosphere was pretty low. There’s quite a few that didn’t play in that game but if they get a chance to show up and get a bit of pride back, I think.”
Morale had taken a dip after the whitewash, but Jackson detects a different mood to the camp he left a year ago.
“I had that tour with Vern (Cotter) when he came in but he hadn’t done too much, but it’s definitely his team, his philosophy on how to play now. It definitely suits the way I want to play the game.
“Last year was straight up and down, a decent summer tour with three wins, including Argentina away, and then a good autumn, but the Six Nations it just didn’t happen for us and it fizzled out.
“You could tell the couple of months took its toll and things were wearing on them. Since then Glasgow have won the PRO12, Jim (Hamilton) won the Premiership with Saracens and they’ve taken that winning confidence and mentality into camp.
“We’re trying to learn from the 6N, but we want to flush it and make this a brand new thing. We’re not trying to go out and just try a few things and blow a bit of rust out. We need to get a victory, something we can build on for the next three weeks going to that World Cup.”