Six Nations: Ben White’s 10 magic minutes on Scotland debut

He came onto the pitch to replace a British and Irish Lion on his international debut. He scored a try to give Scotland the lead over England. Then Ben White went off again, later to return as the hosts sealed the win over the Auld Enemy.

Asked by his fellow pine-riders, and later the massed journalists in attendance, how his little cameo had been, White’s response was unequivocal: “When I came off the pitch and was back sitting on the bench, some of the lads were like ‘how was it?’ and I was like ‘the best 10 minutes of my life!’” said White.

Nerves

“Getting on like that, so early in the game, was good because it took away the nerves and the anxiety of waiting until the last 20 minutes to get on.

“To be thrown in at the deep end was almost like a good thing because you just go on and do your job. It was an incredible experience. Words can’t do it justice. It was absolutely amazing. The stadium was electric, it was incredible.”

Stoke-born White has been overwhelmed by the response to his debut exploits.

“My friends and family were over the moon and incredibly proud,” he said. “The warmth of the Scotland fans has been incredible and the messages I’ve received have been incredible. It’s something I really appreciate. It’s meant so much to pull on that jersey.

“The coaching staff and the players have been brilliant with me ever since I set foot in camp. The way everyone’s got behind me and helped me learn everything and get to know everyone has been amazing. I’ve absolutely loved every second of it. It’s been a dream come true.

“It’s a very tight-knit group. Everyone’s been incredibly friendly and helpful. From coming into this environment you can see how close the squad is and how good the bond is between the players. And it shows on the pitch.”

White hopes to win his second cap when Scotland face Wales in the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

“Our main focus now is Wales,” he said. “The England game was brilliant but it doesn’t mean anything if it’s not backed up the following week. We need to push on and try and get a win down at the Principality.”

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