Chris Cusiter today urged his Scotland side not to spoil all their good work against Fiji and Australia by failing to complete a clean sweep of November international wins against Argentina on Saturday.
Cusiter will aim to become the first man to captain Scotland to a hat-trick of November Test victories since 2002 when Argentina visit Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Andy Robinson era could hardly have had a better start, with a comfortable opening win against Fiji followed by last Saturday's historic 9-8 triumph over Australia.
But with this weekend's clash Scotland's last match until the Six Nations kicks off in February, Cusiter does not want to be stewing over a defeat for the next two months.
"Beating Argentina's not something that's done easily," said Cusiter.
"So we have to be focused on Saturday and we don't want to finish with a loss after all the good work we've done."
Scotland have not beaten Argentina at Murrayfield since 1990 and though they won the sides' most recent meeting during their South America tour in 2008, they had lost the previous seven.
Robinson's men have already torn up the history books this month, ending a 27-year losing streak against Australia, while the Pumas arrive in Edinburgh on the back of defeats to England and Wales.
Cusiter said: "We've got a real focus on finishing on a high note but, equally, they don't want to finish their tour with a loss.
"So it's going to be a big, big challenge."
Cusiter was doubtful for this weekend's match after being forced off after just 20 minutes against Australia with concussion.
"I saw the neurologist yesterday and he was happy with the way I was," said the 27-year-old Glasgow star who trained today with no ill effects.
"James Robson, the team doctor, has the final say and he's happy.
"I think I'm fully recovered now and available."
Cusiter hurt himself making two crucial tackles - the second to prevent a try - in a matter of moments against the Wallabies.
"My vision was slightly affected from the first knock and I just felt slightly slow mentally," he said.
"I remember doing those things but it was just a wee bit blurry."
The captain then watched the whole of what turned out to be an epic second half on television.
He could have been forgiven for thinking his concussion-affected imagination was playing tricks on him, so unbelievably dramatic were the events which unfolded.
"It was a bizarre experience," Cusiter said of the 9-8 success, secured when Matt Giteau somehow missed a straightforward conversion with the final kick of the game.
"Watching that second half indoors, it seemed like the first half had been slow.
"After the game, I was so proud of everyone.
"I was disappointed that I had to go off but sometimes you just have to.
"The guys who played the rest of the game did a great job."
One of those was Cusiter's understudy, Rory Lawson, who was only even on the bench because of an injury to co-captain Mike Blair.
Cusiter can empathise somewhat with Lawson's predicament in having the side's joint skippers ahead of him in the pecking order.
He said: "I was slightly disappointed when Mike was named captain the season before last; I knew that was going to limit my game time.
"But injuries happen and I think Rory knows that Andy will always pick on form, so the guys who play the best rugby will play.
"He'll be as motivated as ever to prove that he should be there and there's good competition between the three of us."
Comments
Be the first to comment on this story..