Interim Scotland coach Scott Johnson insists there is “no tokenism” about the inclusion of New Zealand-born wing Sean Maitland in his squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship.
Maitland, who played for both the Maori All Blacks and the New Zealand Under-20s, arrived in Scotland in October after signing a three-year contract with Glasgow.
The 24-year-old has now scored one try in five starts for Glasgow since making his debut in December.
Johnson, speaking at the Six Nations launch in London, defended Maitland’s Scottish heritage by saying: “When I spoke to his dad, he was standing in his kilt in New Zealand.
“Everyone thinks it’s the grandfather rule that Sean comes under.
“Sean’s father is Scottish and he has great pride in being a Scotsman. Sean used to be woken up as a kid to watch Scotland in the Five Nations, as it was.
“This kid is of proud Scottish heritage. This is not tokenism and he would be offended if anyone questioned that and so would his dad and his grandparents as well.
“He is a real proud Scotsman and he is there for the right reasons and that is why we value him as a member of this team.”
Maitland will become the latest so-called “kilted Kiwi” following the likes of Sean Lineen and the Leslie brothers, John and Martin, if he makes his Scotland debut in their Six Nations opener away to England on February 2.
Scotland have not won at Twickenham since 1983 but Australian coach Johnson, appointed as caretaker boss after Englishman Andy Robinson resigned following the shock loss to Tonga in Aberdeen in November, said that record was of no concern to him.
“That is news to me. A lot of these players probably haven’t been there before. We have to create our own history and disregard what has occurred in the past,” Johnson said.
England’s last match saw them beat world champions New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham in December and they will be overwhelming favourites to defeat Scotland in next week’s Calcutta Cup clash.
However, a defiant Johnson said: “Despite what people think, we are going to turn up to this game – we aren’t going to cancel it. We are coming. We are keen to go.”
Dadiggle
Guest
If he qualifies put him in. Don't see a problem.
atlas
Guest
The Maitland-Scotland combo has been in the wind for some time, according to this article from 18 March 2012. "Scotland has begun a global trawl for players that will no doubt begin with them trying again to lure Crusaders wing Sean Maitland. Winless in their last five tests and staring at the Six Nations wooden spoon, the Scots unveiled the original kilted-Kiwi, Sean Lineen, unexpectedly in a new role - head of acquisitions for the Scottish Rugby Union. Loosely translated, that means he will be responsible for identifying and then luring Scottish-qualified players from around the world.Maitland is half Scottish and is understood to have been sounded out by Scotland coach Andy Robinson in 2010. The player was keen to stay with the Crusaders and chase his dream of being an All Black and signed a two-year contract last year." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10792804 Good luck to him, I have family ties in Edinburgh and half-heartedly follow their team, now a bit more interesting.
Johnno
Guest
Bowe if he gets fit again fate this operation Visser North Cuthbert and a few others ahead of him Chris Ashton
Colvin
Guest
Interesting article in NZ today. Sean Maitland has been measured for a Lion's uniform. He claims it would be a great honour if he could be selected for the Lions and it is one of his goals.
Lippy
Guest
Extremely laughable Samoa is getting desperate if they are claiming Tuilagi was developed by them. Pays to note for the last few world cups close to 50% of the Samoan team were NZ born and developed
Hightackle
Guest
Gear was awesome last year! Only Savea kept him out of the team. He was the winger of super rugby imo.
hoqni
Roar Rookie
Perhaps, the grandfather rule should be scrapped. It should also not be replaced by a father rule or a mother rule. Residency should be changed from 3 to 2 years. Earn and play provincial in the intended country. So what if one was a 12 year old Otago superstar. 2 years and you are fine for the national team. Second national team. Once a player reaches 28, he can qualify to play for another country after a 1 year hiatus. It should be a country of birth for unlimited numbers. or it can be any other country (perhaps up to 3 for registered year). It provides quality development for other countries. Imagine if George Smith and Phil Waugh were to play for Singapore or Malaysia, what kind of interest it will generate in South East Asia?
Hightackle
Guest
Yeah bit of a stretch Mania. 13 is pretty young.
Riccardo
Guest
The Crowd goes Wild over here played that clip over and over Mania. They "claimed" it was a technical glitch going back to 2007 for us all to "enjoy". They had it from every camera at every angle, frame by frame. Classic.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
That's a very fair comment Gary. Most of us would love to represent any country at world cup level, whether our parents were born there or not. Here we are talking about a bloke who really has a connection with Scotland through his dad (seriously who would want to wear a skirt other than a proud scot!!?) , a guy who grew up as a kid being torn between supporting the ABs or the Scots. Like every rule, the eligibility one has loopholes and his sometimes taken advantage of but I don't think we have a case here. And even if we have one so be it.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm cynical enough to think you are right Mania but I hope Biltongbek is.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm all for introducing a double standard that teams outside the top ten can recruit former foreign internationals that haven't played on the same basis as the residency rules.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Sorry how can any country but England claim the development of Tuilagi? As far as I'm aware Samoa doesn't identify and spend money on 12 year olds.... It's a laughable as NZ claiming players like James O'Connor or Digby Ioane...
mania
Guest
your funny , delusional but funny. grip gotten thanx
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Get a grip. He came to England when he was 13.
mania
Guest
more importantly YAY!! http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8208274/Ref-Wayne-Barnes-takes-ball-to-the-face
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
The man love between Mania and Biltongbek brings an emotional tear to my eye. LOL Seriously guys get a room. LOL On the subject of the post Maitland has every right to be allowed to play and IMO I do not have any problems with the rules as they stand at the moment. If my son wanted to go to the UK to play (his grandfather is a British citizen) if he didn't make it in Aus, he would go with my blessing. The opportunities to play pro rugby are not just popping off trees and every opportunity should be grabbed with both hands. I think some of us on these sites get a bit blaze about getting to the top. It is only a very small % of players that ever get the chance and if the chance comes in another country, why not take it. Harris is the perfect example. Instead of thinking of ways to make it harder I think we should leave it as it is.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Johnson as head coach .... That's the real story here on how far Scotland has slipped in rugby rankings .... Good luck to Maitland he has been a good servant to NZ rugby and now get a chance to play at the international level
allblackfan
Guest
The issue is less about Maitland using the opportunity then about him being named in the Scotland squad so very quickly after arriving there. We saw it with Taranaki prop Michael Bent who was named in the Irish squad while he was still in the air on his way to his new home!! And remember, Scotland RU has appointed someone whose sole job is to find overseas players with Scottish heritage good enough to play for Scotland. That's symptomatic of deeper issues that they are trying to gloss over.Does the words ``junior player development'' not mean anything at Scottish RU (or Irish RU or French RU or RFU or .RU ..) How would the local players, who've dreamt and worked hard for a shot at the national jersey only to see some blow-in from the other side of the world take his spot? Maitland, and Bent, should have at least spent a seson playing for their new club/province before earning a national callup. Remember Brendan Laney? He's back living in New Zealand (part of the commentary team for the Highlanders). Guess his Scottish love affair wasn't so permanent!!
mania
Guest
richie plays the bag pipes too