SCOTT Murray has rarely been dropped by Scotland, but when he is it's usually not for long.
The first time the rangy lock forward was left out, by Jim Telfer in 2003, he was restored to the national squad before the end of the week due to the injury of a team-mate.
Similarly, having been left out of Frank Hadden's first Six Nations trai
ning squad of 2008 last Tuesday, he received a call at his new Montauban home in France on Saturday asking if he would come to training after all, if only to provide second-row opposition.
It was typical of his insatiable appetite that Murray replied by saying he could be in Edinburgh on Sunday if needed.
Murray said: "It was certainly better than the conversation (with Hadden] the last time, which began with his opening line: 'This isn't going to be a good phone call Scott'.
"But when Frank said I was being left out, he asked me what my thoughts were and I said if you need me I'll be there because I'm still very keen to be involved. He said it was very close and that if there was an injury I'd be back in.
"I hope to be involved in the championship, of course, but there is a long way to go yet."
For all the interest in Murray's quick return, nothing has changed in the coaches' thinking. He remains fifth choice when all locks are fit and available. However, it is unheard of for a national squad to run through a championship without losing players to injury or, as in Murray's case two years ago, suspension, so there is every possibility that the lock, who turns 32 today, will return.
He remains the most experienced player available to the squad at the moment, with 87 Test matches and a British and Irish Lions tour under his belt, and if given a sniff of a chance retains a strong competitive streak. But the fact remains that Hadden, and assistants George Graham and Alan Tait, prefer younger talents Jim Hamilton, Alastair Kellock and Scott MacLeod.
Bruce Douglas is another experienced forward who was recalled yesterday. He has not figured in a Test squad for nearly two years, but if Euan Murray fails to recover from his calf injury Douglas' 27 years and 43 caps of experience would probably push him ahead of youngster Moray Low to vie with Gavin Kerr and Craig Smith for the tighthead berth. After a difficult final year at the Borders, the recall in itself provided him with a welcome boost.
"I'm really chuffed to be back up," he said. "I was shocked to get the call on Saturday night, after Euan (Murray] got hurt, and while I'm not overly excited about my prospects of selection against France it's nice to know they haven't forgotten about me.
"I'm confident I'm playing well. There is a lot of rotation going on in the front row at Llanelli, so it's frustrating not to build momentum, but I started the last three games in the Magners League and came off the bench yesterday, so I'm getting game-time.
"I'm back up to my full playing weight now and stronger than I've ever been in the gym.
"I read Garry Law's interview in Saturday's Scotsman, about how he was depressed at the end at the Borders as well and Viadana has been a nice change, and that's similar to how I feel.
"I'm enjoying my rugby again, looking forward to each game, and I would love to be involved with Scotland again. These things go in circles and whether it's next month, or in seven years, I'll be back."
Dougie Hall and Craig Smith were also called up to the squad yesterday, and again, the fact they are both well-known international players merely highlighted the growing depth in the squad.
Hall made his first start for Glasgow at the weekend after battling back from an injury suffered in August, while Smith is involved in a tough fight with Kerr and Augusto Allori to play in Edinburgh's front row.
The full article contains 699 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
