In form: Johnnie Beattie
Montpellier number eight Johnnie Beattie is looking forward to getting his Scotland career back on track following his switch to the Top 14.
The 27-year-old, who won his last cap in 2011, has been key in Montpol being set to make their first Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance.
It looked as if Beattie's Test career was over when he was left out of the RWC squad and worse followed when he fell out of favour at Glasgow.
But now he aims to regain his Test place in time for the Six Nations opener away to England at Twickenham on February 2 and loves being back.
"It's been great fun," Beattie, back in Glasgow for a three-day Scotland training camp called by interim head coach Scott Johnson, said on Monday.
"I have loved the change of environment and the change of culture, and the change in rugby has been great for me."
He added: "I'm really glad I made the move and also managed to keep in touch with the national set-up and still be asked back.
"I haven't played as many games back to back for a long, long time.
"I have played 80 minutes for the past eight or nine games.
"That has really helped just get back into the run of things, continuity in the legs, going through contacts and collisions and building confidence back up. So it has been great in that respect."
Beattie, whose career was interrupted by shoulder surgery shortly after he impressed in the 2010 Six Nations, said he had become struck in a rut.
"I had stayed at one club for eight years and everyone needs a freshen-up and a change every now and again," he added.
"So far it's been great, I have picked up a few things and it's great to play with different players and learn from different coaches."
Beattie admitted there was a concern moving abroad might have hindered rather than helped his Scotland prospects.
"You look at the Welsh players in France and a lot of them aren't being asked back to the national camp, so for me it was an enormous relief after playing a few games to get the call to come back and be part of this environment again," he said.
"And obviously there is a fresh environment with Johnno heading things up and a different coaching team. It's an exciting time."
Johnson had been assisting former Scotland coach Andy Robinson since last year's tour of the southern hemisphere but found himself parachuted into the top job, albeit on a caretaker basis, after the Englishman resigned following the embarrassing loss to Tonga.
"He seems like a really positive bloke," Beattie said of Johnson.
"Everyone loved working under Andy but we didn't achieve what we wanted to achieve.
"Johnno just spoke this (Monday) morning about trying to maximise in every single aspect, chucking in exactly 100 percent to whatever you can each day to improve so that when we get to Test matches everything is geared to performing in a winning way."
Comments
Michtymauler says...
Beattie's name has surely already been penned in! When there are so few Scots players enjoying success this season and so many way way underperforming! I hope Johnson has the cahoneys to select the in form players!! I agree with atg and that back three is potentially exciting however as we've seen with the Scottish teams, especially Edinburgh, great players out wide aren't much cope when the ball isn't going anywhwere near them! If the front row can hold their own in the scrums, which will be a novelty, then you'd expect a quick offloading tactic from Scotland.. There's potential in the backs but they just need the ball.. I could see Lamont playing 12, pending fitness, otherwise Scott or Horne with Evans playing 13.. Not that ideal for the two bulky foreign English centres but Evans and Horne faster and more skilful... 9 and 10 is anyone's guess especially since Laidlaw has been playing 9 until last week!! Laidlaw will definitely play due to his kicking but will Johnson be ultra optimistic in starting Heathcote at 10??...
Posted 15:59 22nd January 2013
atg77 says...
I totally agree, with one of the most dangerous back threes in the competition in Visser, Mait and Hogg... Scotland will be a major threat.
Posted 14:29 22nd January 2013
melkdave says...
I expect the change in intensity has also helped,he now plays in a league with conseqences ,and where every point matters,No longer can he coast,and expect to play week in week out.,he now has to prove his the man for the job,every game.This is i suspect what has been missing when he was at Glasgow,and eventualy led to him falling out of favour.Which seems to happen to alot of scottish playersThe move did him a world of good,and made him a better player.Of course he wouldnt have had to move,if the Pro12 was a league that gave players a reason to keep striving,and improving,but atm it doesnt.Hence the malaise thats fallen over all the celtic teams atm,including the irish.The Pro12 needs a major overhaul,and to become revalent to players and supporters.
Posted 11:26 22nd January 2013
carpelone says...
Scotland can be the real surprise of this 6N, I predict.
Go lads.
Posted 11:12 22nd January 2013