Six Nations: Scots' Nicol has no regrets

Scotland captain Andy Nicol leads his country at the Stade de France on Sunday refusing to reflect on missed glory.

Amazingly, Nicol will be winning only his 17th cap - a stark reflection on a career which has been ravaged by injury since the Dundee-born scrum-half made his international debut in 1992.

He has never played a full international in Paris before, although he did captain Bath to their Heineken Cup victory on French soil in 1998.

The 29-year-old star missed three more Test matches in the autumn, struck down by ankle and knee complaints which have restricted him to just four appearances for Glasgow Caledonians this season.

But Nicol, whose blood-splattered face was plastered over the back pages last season following the momentous Calcutta Cup victory at Murrayfield, is not the type of character to feel sorry for himself.

"Injuries are part of the game - you get what you get," he said.

"There is no point feeling sorry for yourself because who is to say what would have happened if I had been fit.

"Some of the competition we have had at scrum-half has been immense when you consider what Gary Armstrong and Bryan Redpath have achieved.

"I was a Scottish fan before I started playing and will be again long after I finish.

"I don't wallow in misfortune. I just want Scotland to do well and I am as happy as anyone when they do, whether I am in the team or not."