Cusiter targets Blair's spot

Chris Cusiter has warned Scotland captain Mike Blair he is after his number nine jersey.

Scrum-half Cusiter returns to his homeland from France this summer after signing a three-year deal with Glasgow.

The 26-year-old was an automatic pick for Scotland four years ago and was on the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

He then suffered a series of injuries to open the door for Blair, who made the scrum-half position his own before being appointed national team captain last year and getting himself on the shortlist for the 2008 IRB Player of the Year award.

But a series of indifferent displays in this season’s RBS 6 Nations and the departure of head coach Frank Hadden mean the Edinburgh star can no longer be sure of his place.

Cusiter, who came off the bench in all five Six Nations games, believes the forthcoming move from Perpignan to Glasgow will put even more pressure on his rival.

“First and foremost, I feel like I’m joining a good team,” he told BBC Radio Scotland.

“Secondly, I wanted to be in the shop window for playing for Scotland and I felt coming back to Glasgow would give me a better opportunity to do that.

“Mike Blair’s been playing well but I want to be the starting number nine. That’s a big ambition of mine.”

Cusiter, who moved to France when Border Reivers disbanded in 2007, added: “Coming off the bench is a very different role from starting games.

“I was pleased with my contribution and, when I got a bit of game time, I thought that made a difference.

“I’ve been around long enough now to know that coming off the bench is not where you want to be.

“I feel that, in the next few years, I can play the best rugby that I’m capable of and move onwards and upwards.”

Cusiter added to BBC Scotland: “Playing for Perpignan has been fantastic but it can be frustrating sometimes because you don’t play all the games.

“Myself and Nico Durand share the post and that can affect things if you’re out of the picture come the Six Nations or whatever.

“I want to play regular rugby. I feel I can bring good experience to Glasgow and I’m joining a team that’s going places.”