SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Iain Morrison talks to the Scottish flanker about taking over from the retired Budge Poutney
It's reasonable to assume that Andrew Mower was as surprised as the rest of the rugby world at Budge Pountney's decision to quit international rugby. But while the call may have been unexpected, the Sydney-born openside flanker is unfazed at the prospect of taking over Pountney's Scotland number seven shirt.
With 10 A caps and four full ones, the Newcastle foward was the obvious replacement.
"Budge Pountney's a great player," says Mower. "I respect his decision. If I get the opportunity at the weekend I have to take the chance and make the most of it."
His big day should have an air of familiarity about it. Having travelled half-way around the globe, he will find himself face-to-face on Sunday with his oldest rival from home, Ireland's Australian openside Keith Gleeson.
"We were arch rivals," Mower explains. "I've played against him since I was at school. In my final year back home (1998) before I moved to Britain my team, Gordon Highlanders, beat his side Northern Suburbs in the Sydney Grand Final and I won the man-of-the-match award. Unfortunately, he was playing last season when Scotland A played Ireland A and that is a match I want to forget. I suppose the score is 1-1 at the moment."
Mower's only experience of playing against Ireland remains that A fixture, which resulted in a 60-3 humiliation for the Scots in Belfast, a scoreline that is unlikely to be repeated this weekend.
Now 27, Mower has a more varied résumé than many of today's young stars. He was a financial trader for HSBC in Sydney and divided his spare time between rugby and surfing. He was also a volunteer lifeguard at a surfing and life-saving club.
He may sound like an all-Australian boy, but his father is English and he also qualifies to play for Wales (grandparent) and, obviously, Scotland (another grandparent).
He was tempted to pursue the Super 12 option back in 1998 but the NSW Waratahs offered him only a part-time contract. He quit his banking job and headed to Britain, where he began with London Irish before moving north to join Newcastle, home to Rob Andrew's Scots foreign legion.
He has endured a frustrating season after Andrew's "English only" policy, in line with RFU guidelines, backfired badly and the Falcons sank to the bottom of the league. But a legal challenge halted the RFU's ruling and Mower was brought back from the Scottish club Borders, where he was out on loan.
Mower's contract is up this summer and he is undecided about his future. "I just want to concentrate on the Six Nations and worry about a contract later."
His move back to Newcastle has coincided with an upturn in the club's fortunes and he is now brimming with confidence.
Pountney's decision to quit, following the example of his Northampton colleague John Leslie, has once again focused attention on Scotland's own foreign legion.
"I'd never walk out of any side," says Mower. "I feel honoured to be playing for Scotland. If I couldn't play for Scotland I'd give up pro rugby and go back to banking."
Guardian Service
