David Denton Versus Ireland's "Lions Back Row"
He stepped onto the scene with murmurs behind him. Looking like a built-up Shaggy and having only been spotted by the keener international supporters, few outside of Scotland knew who David Denton was.
In his first test start against England the number 8 was officially on everyone's radar. He careened into tackles, churning with his legs and looking all the while like he belonged in the collision. Now he is firing himself up to face an Irish back row equally adept at hitting folk.
"I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it, the Zimbabwean-born breakaway says at the Scotland team announcement. He has a big smile on his face. "Playing against the French back row a week and a bit ago was incredible, with the World Player of the year and the likes, and the Irish are going to be the same. They are three incredible players.
"We are a really strong back row; a really good unit. I think we work well together, particularly considering we've only been together for the last game since Stroker [Al Strokosch] got injured, but I think we are doing really well and can match them up front.
"There's no question that Ireland have been trying to work on that [the 'choke tackle'] for the last year or two and they've become really effective at it. It is about us being really physical around the contact area and I think that is where I can get involved. If they get on the wrong side of the ball you've just got to make them not want to be there again.
"There are different ways of doing that, but at the end of the day you have just got to... hard-nosed...get your head down and, smile spreading across his face again, "hurt someone.
There are laughs here, and an air is adopted where one could assume this is just a joke, but he is serious. He is as serious as a pick and go five seconds from time. His job will be to decimate any mauls created by a wrapping tackle “what Robinson has dubbed the 'choke' “and to ensure Ireland do not continuously kill Scottish ball.
It must also be said that he is turning up against a side with a disappointing draw behind them, only five days rest and a need to exercise the last game in Dublin when Scotland destroyed Irish dreams of a grand slam.
Earnestly the number 8 waves away suggestions of a let up. "There is no question they are an outstanding team, but there is not going to be a better opportunity than this. They've got four games on the trot. That's tough for any team in International rugby. It's a real test and I've felt how tired you get... and we've had the weeks off. They are not going to be able to feel the same way. It is going to be a physical battle out there and the last 20 minutes are going to be essential for us.
"There has been a lot of pressure on how fit we are looking as a team and I think that is important. Wales are meant to be one of the fittest teams in the World but I think we showed at the end of both halves [against them] we were fitter. I think this is important going into a game like this where the opposition might be more tired.
As he stretches up and turns his neck slightly, there is a feeling that he is genuinely excited about that physical battle. He doesn't look right sitting down, in the same way that you would not expect him to slump into contact. He looks primed. Perhaps it is the thought of that individual battle, again. He wants to measure himself against the best, like he feels he did against France.
"How many rubbish back rows are there in the World? he poses, with a slight tilt of his head. "It is a position where there tends to be a lot of depth in a lot of countries. Again it is great, saying as a young player that you are able to go out and play against what would be the Lions back row at the moment and see how I compare and see if myself, Rossco [Rennie] and John [Bartclay] can get on top of them. I think we can.
There is no doubting the belief. He wants this and Robinson has built him up before letting him know that he has a job.
See those three men in green? Go get them...
Credit - Scottish Rugby Union and the PA Images
