Morrison determined to make most of Scotland recall

Graeme Morrison is determined to justify his Scotland recall by unleashing his full array of attacking skills against France on Sunday.

Morrison was arguably the most controversial selection when head coach Andy Robinson named his starting XV for the RBS 6 Nations opener at Murrayfield.

Glasgow centre Morrison, 27, was axed for the final autumn international against Argentina after disappointing with the ball in hand during the victories over Fiji and Australia.

But his excellent club performances since have convinced Robinson to partner him with Warriors team-mate Max Evans this weekend.

Morrison told Press Association Sport: “Having gone back to Glasgow, it’s been great for me to get a bit more ball in my hands and run, and show what I could do with it.

“So, I’ll be looking to do that on Sunday.”

He added: “The form that I’ve had in the past couple of months has given my confidence a real boost.

“I’m glad to be back and I’m going to do everything I can to be part of a win.”

Morrison’s selection demonstrates just how much emphasis Robinson has placed on club form since the November Tests, with Alex Grove’s all-action performances during his first three games for his country not enough to keep him in the side.

Morrison, who will earn his 19th cap on Sunday, said: “There’s no doubt that he played well – he did.

“Had he been playing, it would have just spurred me on.

“I think the fact that we’ve got such healthy competition is good for the country.”

Morrison hopes he and Evans can replicate the chemistry that has helped propel Glasgow to the top of the Magners League when Scotland take to the field on Sunday.

“The fact that I play with Max week in, week out may help to some extent,” he said, adding the huge Warriors influence should pay dividends all over the field.

“We’re lucky that we all get on well and we all work together well.”

And the inside centre refused to contemplate the consequences of another below-par display, saying: “We won’t think about the not working side of things.”

He added: “The nerves are starting to creep in, which is a good thing.

“It’s been a long wait, I think we’ve had a couple of good weeks training and I think the guys are raring to go now.

“We’ve got a squad very capable of going out and beating any team in the world, as we saw in the autumn.”

Scotland have not defeated France since 2006, the last time they won their opening Six Nations game and the last time they recorded more than one championship victory.

Their chances of repeating that result appear to have been boosted by the number of injuries their opponents are carrying ahead of Sunday’s game.

But Morrison said: “They’ve got quality throughout their whole team and they have a certain strength in depth that many countries would be envious of.

“The players that are playing are world class in all their positions.”

The game will see Morrison go head to head with the 17-stone Mathieu Bastareaud, one of the most physical centres in world rugby.

“We’ve got Hugo Southwell in the camp, who plays alongside him, who says he’s a very hard man to bring down,” Morrison said.

“I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Bastareaud caused a diplomatic stir last summer after he falsely claimed he had been attacked following a night out in Wellington on France’s tour to New Zealand when, in fact, he sustained a suspected broken eye socket and needed four stitches in his cheek after a drunken fall in his hotel room.

France Prime Minister Francois Fillon sent a written apology to New Zealand counterpart John Key over the incident, which saw Bastareaud handed out a suspended three-month ban.

Morrison said: “To be honest, I didn’t really follow that story, so I couldn’t comment!”