BEN CAIRNS remains adamant it has been a rugby season of progress despite getting close, but not quite close enough, to a Scotland debut during the Six Nations Championship.
Confirming that the 22-year-old Edinburgh centre gets better the longer the campaign continues, he found himself travelling with the Test team to Rome for the final instalment of the tournament to be placed on stand-by right up until the eleventh hou
r only for any chance to come and then go.
But, rather than feel exasperated, Cairns takes heart from having been set an example of how much he is in the thoughts of those running the national side and also their words of encouragement during the subsequent de-brief.
On top of that, he also claims to have experiences under his belt now that can be put to good use in Edinburgh's cause during the Magners Celtic League run-in ... First, though, the team's joint top try-scorer for this season – he has four touchdowns along with Nick De Luca – faces a fitness test on a hip injury. Although, in keeping with his buoyant mood, Cairns is optimistic about shaking off the knock in time to face Cardiff at Murrayfield on Friday.
"I was close to getting a cap, no doubt about it," says Cairns but those who expect any frustration to then ooze out underestimate the Royal High and Currie-reared prospect.
He quickly added: "Just to be involved was a really good experience in itself and seeing close-up how the guys prepare will be useful should the opportunity comes my way again.
"In a similar situation nothing will be new to me and I will be able to deal with things even better."
It was the late withdrawal of Nikki Walker, pictured left, from Scotland's team to visit Italy ten days ago that sparked a major alert and saw Cairns attached to the travelling party, even though Simon Danielli was the player called up.
"I did the whole preparation, travelled, watched the warm-up in case anyone went down and then sat in the stand for the match itself.
"All in all, though, I took that as a step up especially as afterwards I spoke to (national coach) Frank Hadden about what I need to work on to hopefully keep going forward.
"Whatever else I now have a platform from which to advance and it is gratifying to have confirmation I am there-or-thereabouts."
If Cairns later today proves his fitness after what he calls a "freak injury" in training when his foot got stuck, he will be joining a team on a mission to build on a bonus point win over Connacht last time out. Equally important from centre Cairns' perspective is the defensive solidity of a side who, for the third match running, conceded just a single try and that is a rock on which he hopes to build.
"Apart from when we lost an intercept try last week, Connacht never really looked like breaking us down.
"Of course there was a period towards the end when they really came at us but again we stood strong.
"Things will need to be the same against Cardiff who might have a point to prove."
That was a reference to the 11-10 win achieved by Edinburgh at the Arms Park in January when they overcame not only the hosts but foul conditions.
According to Cairns that was a seminal moment in the team's season.
He added: "What came out of that fixture was the fact we showed we could play in difficult conditions and still win.
"It was a massive win in horrible weather and while hopefully the elements will be kinder we know we will have to battle just as hard this weekend given how determined Cardiff will be."
The full article contains 645 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
