Blair back for Scotland after rough ride

Mike Blair is confident he is ready to reclaim the Scotland number nine jersey when Ireland visit Murrayfield next Saturday after testing his injured left shoulder against one of the most feared tacklers in world rugby.

It was Blair’s misfortune that he was making his comeback from injury at the same time as Jason White was returning to action from the knee injury which has kept him out of action since last November. It meant that when it was time for Blair to take contact on the shoulder it was White who was handing out the punishment.