No nerves for new captain Cusiter

CHRIS CUSITER has no fears about leading out Scotland for the first time this weekend, insisting being on the bench is as nerve-wracking as it gets.

The scrum-half will captain his country against Fiji on Saturday at Murrayfield after winning his battle for the armband and a place in the team with joint skipper Mike Blair.

Unlike Blair, who has led Scotland for the past year and a half, Cusiter’s experience in the role at Test level is limited to replacing his rival during last season’s RBS 6 Nations game against Wales.

Coming off the bench has been the story of Cusiter’s Test career for the past two years, with Blair’s stranglehold on the armband guaranteeing his own place in the team.

But Andy Robinson’s decision to appoint the pair joint captains for the autumn internationals has re-ignited a battle for the number nine jersey which dates back several years.

The 27-year-old said: “To be honest, being on the bench is probably more nerve-wracking than starting a game because you don’t know when you’re going to be on, you don’t know how long you’re going to get.

“And, ultimately, if you don’t get on or you get a very short period of time, it can be very frustrating.”

Asked if leading out Scotland would be the proudest moment of his career, the Glasgow star said: “Possibly, I hadn’t thought of it like that. It’s certainly one of the biggest moments of my rugby career to date.

“I’ve been around a wee while and I’ve learnt little bits from different captains that I’ve had. The best captains that I’ve played under are the ones that lead by example and it’s not so much about headbangin; it’s about being a calm voice of authority.