If there is controversy raging around Brendan Laney's rapid promotion to Scotland's national XV it appears to have passed by the man himself, who is making all the right noises. "I'm obviously a Kiwi but I'm very proud to be Scottish today," said the effervescent full back.
Laney, who has been in Scotland only 11 days, has clearly been doing his homework before facing the land of his birth today. When asked whether he knew the words to Flower of Scotland he snapped back: "I was waiting for that one. Do you know the words to the New Zealand national anthem?"
Laney is nicknamed "The Chainsaw" for his ability to slice through defences and several New Zealand colleagues have already paved the controversial path he is beating. He confirmed that he had "bounced a few things off" John Leslie and Gordon Simpson, both fellow Kiwis who adopted Scottish colours.
Leslie, Laney's old Otago playing partner, says he was "unaware" at the time of the furore that his own Scotland selection had caused and he suspects the same is true of Laney. His father, Andy Leslie, captained the All Blacks and John confessed that on winning his first Scotland cap he felt "regret" because his childhood ambition to be an All Black was now impossible.
But Laney seems to adopt the Edith Piaf approach to regret. "It's been a great, exciting 10 days," he said. "It's been magic; roll on the weekend."
Laney, who qualifies for Scotland through a Glasgow-born grandmother, says he is unfazed by facing the team that, until 11 days ago, he would call his own. "It doesn't really bother me much, it's another game. I've played against most of these guys before, admittedly not in a Test match, but I've played Super 12 finals."
Leslie believes the full back's own enthusiastic character has meant he has won acceptance into the senior squad despite the initial misgivings of some senior players.
"He (Laney) doesn't pick the team and the boys have been very accommodating to him. All the boys are excited about having an exciting player among them."
Laney has been likened to a great Australian wing, as Leslie recalls from his own days with Otago. "A lot of people do compare him to David Campese. A lot of things he tries don't quite come off but a lot do. Everyone realises that he's got something special and we hope he's going to spark us on Saturday."
If Laney may be "The Chainsaw" - or "Coleslaw" as the Scotland squad has quickly dubbed him - then Jon Steel, today at least, must presumably be the "Short Straw".
The Glasgow wing and former county high hurdler has the task of stopping Jonah Lomu, who has scored six tries in five outings against Scotland. Few would bet against him adding to that today - even with Laney at full back.
France coach Bernard Laporte is determined not to make the mistake of taking the Fiji lightly in today's Test at Saint-Etienne. He said: "We are always working together to progress. Fiji are not a small team. France have to work again and again."
Full back Clement Poitrenaud (19) has also warned that recent success must not be a flash in the pan. Les Blues go into the match on the back of successive home wins over South Africa and Australia.
SCOTLAND: Laney; Steel, McLaren, J Leslie, Paterson; Townsend, Nicol; Smith (Northampton,capt), Bulloch (Glasgow), Stewart, S Murray, Grimes, White, Mower, Simpson. Replacements: Scott, Graham, Fullarton, Taylor, Burns, Ross, Henderson.
NEW ZEALAND: MacDonald; Howlett, Umaga, Mauger, Lomu; Mehrtens, Kelleher; Feek, Oliver, Somerville, Jack, Maxwell, Thorne, Robinson, McCaw. Replacements: Willis, Hewett, Waller, Holah, Robinson, Blair, Ralph.
