Cusiter confident in dual role

Cusiter: Dual captain

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Andy Robinson's new dual-captaincy model took some time to sink in for Scotland's players according to joint skipper Chris Cusiter.

In a highly unusual move Robinson announced on Monday that Cusiter and scrum-half rival Mike Blair would share the captain's armband for the autumn internationals.

Edinburgh half-back Blair had been the sole captain for the last year and a half, while the 27-year-old Glasgow star has never taken charge at Test level.

Speaking publicly for the first time about Robinson's departure from convention, Cusiter described how his team-mates reacted to the news.

"For the first wee while, nobody said anything and it just kind of went under the radar," he said.

"But, slowly I suppose, people have come up and said things."

Hugely important

"For me, the whole thing's a new experience. If and when I was picked to start a game, that would be a big thing for me personally.

"I think people have bought into it, as we have, and that's obviously hugely important moving forward."

Cusiter said the model worked well during the team's three-day training camp at St Andrews and he believes it will bear fruit when substitutions are made during this month's Tests.

"Both of us know the tactics and the game plan like the back of our hands," said Cusiter, who captained Scotland A during this summer's tour to Romania.

"We've been in involved in all the decision-making processes so bringing one guy on hopefully shouldn't affect the tactical side of the game but, at the same time, it's bringing on a fresh set of legs."

The pair's long running contest for the number nine jersey had resulted in Cusiter playing second fiddle lately following his 28-year-old rival's appointment as captain.

Opportunities

"To be on the bench over the last couple of years was tough he added. "But knowing I was behind a player like Mike made it sometimes a little bit easier to take.

"Obviously, we both want to be playing, so that's where the competition comes in.

"But, with this system, I think that we'll both have opportunities and we'll both be supporting the other one, so I think we can make a positive situation out of this."

Blair said: "There's a mutual respect, I think; we've both been on the Scotland scene for almost six, seven years now.

"We're both capable in what we can do as players and I'm a real fan of the way Chris plays.

"I think he leads by example and that's something that's going to be really important going into these autumn internationals."