Star in the making

In a team of 45 players and countless back-room staff you might think it would be hard to feel like the odd one out, the black sheep in the family.

For the three Scottish players on tour with the Lions, however, it's like their first day at school as they quietly introduce themselves to their new classmates. We all remember what that was like and how hard some of us tried to make a good impression.

Spare a thought, then, for Simon Taylor, Gordon Bulloch and Chris Cusiter - three Scots surrounded by 21 Englishmen, 10 from Wales and 11 of Ireland's finest - though Taylor's recurring hamstring may threaten his involvement, just as injury cut short his last Lions assignment, in Australia in 2001.

"There are 20-odd English guys who know each other well so you have to make that extra effort to get to know them," the halfback said. "I have played with some guys but there are others I haven't even played against."

Last Wednesday against Taranaki, Cusiter, who turns 23 tomorrow, played behind a pack with Wales' Michael Owen at No 8 with England's Charlie Hodgson at first five-eighths.

The Scot put in a tidy performance, except for one glaring back pass from the base of a defensive scrum that went flying over the dead-ball line. "I was quite embarrassed about that," he said. "I have never done anything like that in my life, either in training or in a match, and I don't know where it came from. I just threw out a howler."

The unfortunate thing is that, on a tour with four halfbacks all vying for a test spot, and with Cusiter probably behind Wales' Dwayne Peel and England's Matt Dawson in the pecking order, he could be remembered for that misdemeanour.

Cusiter certainly recognised that fact when he implored the hordes of travelling media not to focus too heavily on that one pass. Although still relatively new to the international scene, Cusiter is used to being the centre of attention, considering he plays behind a poor Scottish pack and tries to spark a dysfunctional backline.

Before this year's Six Nations, the Borders halfback was felt to have a good chance of securing a Lions test spot but his stocks fell as Scotland's fortunes waned.

Conversely, Peel rocketed up the pecking order on the back of Wales' Grand Slam-winning exploits.

It means Cusiter could be battling it out with Dawson for a place on the bench for the tests, with the Englishman probably having his nose in front because of his greater experience, including the memorable World Cup triumph.

Cusiter said: "I'm ambitious and I realise I'm young and probably not the front runner now but I'm not here to make up the numbers or to back up anyone else." Then, displaying the feisty nature halfbacks are renowned for, he added: "I want to be the test halfback."

There are plenty of people in the background who think he's capable of achieving that.

Former All Black assistant coach Tony Gilbert rated him as the one player in the UK he would like to bring back to New Zealand, after having worked with him for two years at Borders.

Welsh legend Gareth Edwards is also a huge fan, while Cusiter has worked under the guidance of Scottish halfback hero Gary Armstrong.

So even though Cusiter might feel a bit on the outer at the moment, he's bidding strongly for the inner.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY