Lamont ready to provide midfield punch for Scots

Sean Lamont is determined to maintain the highest of standards every time he pulls on a Scotland jersey and is eager to do as instructed and run at Ireland in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at Murrayfield.

Lamont is one of seven changes to the starting XV from the side which lost 24-6 to Wales in arguably the worst performance of head coach Andy Robinson’s 18-month reign.

Possibly the biggest critic of that display, which leaves Scotland chasing a first win of the tournament tomorrow after the opening loss in France, was Scarlets back Lamont, who called for a session of finger-pointing and honesty in the wake of the defeat, believing some members of the team were becoming too comfortable and complacent about their place.

Lamont, who will start at centre tomorrow, insists the pressure on him personally is not heightened by his comments after the Wales game, in which he was Scotland’s standout performer after coming off the bench.

The 30-year-old today told Press Association Sport: “I’ve got a point to prove every time I take the field now, not just in this game and not because of that - I don’t want to get dropped again.

“I’ve got to play as I did against Wales every time.

“Okay I’m in a different position, but that’s the standard I’ve now set myself.”

Lamont received a frosty reception from some of his team-mates following the comments.

He added: “Once I explained to them what I wanted to say, rather than what was coming second hand through the press, it was fine.

“It was a bit of raw emotion at the time and maybe I shouldn’t have said some of the things I said, but everything’s cleared up and we’re back to normal.”

Lamont’s inclusion at number 12, outside fly-half Ruaridh Jackson, sees Nick De Luca switch to outside centre in a midfield which faces Ireland’s Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll.

Lamont, who will win his 53rd cap tomorrow, has been instructed to run and gain yardage every time he receives the ball and he is unfazed by the calibre of the opposition.

He said: “I’m there to do a job and if that’s to punch it up and get some go-forward than that’s what I’m here to do.

“I’m not used to it defensively and we’ve been looking at plenty of their moves. They’re highly talented centres and we’ve got to contain them.”

Robinson named an unchanged team for the Wales match – although Richie Gray later had to withdraw through illness – believing continuity of selection to be key.

However, the performance against Wales necessitated change and Lamont is joined by Moray Low, Gray, Johnnie Beattie, Mike Blair, Jackson and Chris Paterson in coming into the starting XV.

Robinson will urge his side to start well and continue to run the ball.

He said: “We’ve got to still play. A lot is talked about the start and a key element for us is not to sit back and just kick the ball.

“What’s important is that we go out and attack the opposition and put them under pressure.

“It’s very easy having made the number of errors that we have to suddenly go into yourself a little bit.

“We’ve got to be able to play through this, have better accuracy and get the balance of our tactical kicking game.

“The other aspect for me is getting off the line and defending.

“We gave Wales too much respect in the way we defended against them in the first 20 minutes.

“We have a lot of respect for this Irish team but we’ve got to get off the line and put them on the floor.”

Much will be expected of Jackson, who will be winning his fourth cap and making his first Test start in place of Dan Parks.

Robinson is confident the fly-half can take on British and Irish Lion O’Gara.

He said: “Ruaridh’s got a great head on his shoulders and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes on and runs the game.

“With Ronan coming back into the squad he’s got points to prove, so it’s going to be great to see the two play against each other.”

In 11 previous Six Nations meetings with Ireland, Scotland have two wins.

Scotland, with a trip to tournament favourites England on March 13, face the prospect of a Wooden Spoon decider with Italy on March 19 if they fail to beat Ireland tomorrow.

That is something Lamont does not wish to have to contemplate.

He added: “I take it week by week.

“A win for us this weekend reignites it and it then doesn’t just turn into another Six Nations we’ve had in the past where we scrape through with a few wins.”