Rugby: McGeechan - It’s just the start

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan insists the final Six Nations game against Ireland will represent the start of the season rather than the end of the competition.

The original Murrayfield match was postponed due to the foot-and-mouth crisis until September 22.

But McGeechan maintains the Irish game will now serve as a springboard towards the Test series with New Zealand, Tonga and Canada, as well as the next Six Nations tournament.

McGeechan said: ‘‘We have to see the season afresh. It isn’t a carry over. We have been working on things in the summer.

‘‘As far as I’m concerned, it is the first game of the new season.

‘‘With the Celtic League starting on August 17, I was keen to get the players in today to bring things together from a national prospective because we do not have a lot of time between the start of the season and the Irish game.

‘‘With the training meeting today, another in early September and then the week leading up to the Ireland game, I see it as a new start and a completely new focus.’’

The Scottish contingent of the Lions’ squad - Tom Smith, Scott Murray and Gordon Bulloch were all missing from the session today.

But McGeechan is confident the experience they have gained in Australia will boost his squad at the next get together.

McGeechan said: ‘‘They will be at the next session in early September. I have spoken to them individually but it is important that they just have a break.

‘‘I thought Tom Smith was outstanding in Australia but I want a longer conversation with the players from that.

‘‘I think they will be keen to do well for Scotland having had the Lions’ experience.’’

Meanwhile Edinburgh Reivers and Lions’ number eight Simon Taylor is aiming for a return to action for his club in the friendly against Northampton.

Taylor returned home from Down Under after just one game with a serious knee injury.

But the young Lion insists he is ready to roar for his club and country after the disappointment of his curtailed Australian tour.

Taylor said: ‘‘I’m coming to the end of the rehab work and have another week of it so we will see what happens after that.

‘‘I’m quite happy and hopefully I will be available for the first Celtic League game of the season.

’’Bath is the big target but I would like to be ready for the Northampton game. We will just have to see how it goes.’’

But Taylor insists that the disappointment of his shortened Lions’ tour has been firmly put behind him now.

Taylor said: ‘‘It was a long time ago when it happened. Occasionally I still think about it but I’m just looking forward to the new season. I’m certainly not dwelling on it.

‘‘I haven’t really heard too much about the rest of the tour apart from what I read in the papers.’’

Scotland coach McGeechan believes that the relaxed attitude of Taylor has brought the player through the tribulations of the summer unscathed.

McGeechan said: ‘‘I haven’t really talked to him about his injury. We just talked about his law exams actually.

‘‘Simon is pretty laid back about everything but it was a good experience for him and obviously he was hugely disappointed not to see the whole tour through.’’