INTERVIEW/Shane Hogan: Johnny Watterson talks to Shane Horgan who is pragmatic about playing Scotland at Murrayfield

If necessity is the mother of invention, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan and his team could be cast in the role of the code breakers at Bletchley. There have been few bigger enigmas in Irish rugby than the Murrayfield stretch. So much so the name of the Scottish stadium was uttered around the Citywest hotel yesterday with pursed lips and vague expressions. Say it gently. Murrayfield.

The X-rated videos the Ireland team have been watching all week will have turned their collective minds to Scotland's equivalent of slash-and-burn rugby. Big pack, quick rucks, and as soon as you've adjusted they've moved on and on and . . .

The team has recognised the lack of success since 1985, while O'Sullivan, declining the charade of talking around the issue, candidly points to the obvious. "More recently the scorelines have been horrendous too," he says.

Shane Horgan is not immune to the breadth of the challenge. Nor is he a player to argue with his coach. A winger and centre, this weekend O'Sullivan has handed him the number 14 shirt. Like most of the players, as well as the coach, Horgan is a pragmatist.

"We don't have a psychologist that I'm aware of - maybe Eddie," says Horgan, fresh from the morning session at Lakelands Park, Terenure. "It (Murrayfield record) was definitely mentioned earlier in the week. It's not pretty to look at for Irish eyes. But I don't think you should gaze on it too much. Although there were quite a lot of the guys involved last time we played Scotland, we also beat them well here.

"The away record is a motivational tool and that's what I'd take from it. I certainly don't want to be carrying the baggage of the past games into the match. That's no good to anyone. What you take is that they are going to be up for it and they'll be hard to beat."

Horgan's year has been one of incremental improvement. Playing in the centre for unbeaten Leinster, his switch to the wing brings a new set of match guidelines. A dual role, he has carried it with seamless adjustment despite the different demands it has made on his 6ft 4ins physique.

"It's a question that's been asked of me ever since I started playing international rugby," he says. "I think it was probably a little harder for me to adjust over the first few matches where I'd no experience playing on the wing.

"It was daunting but it's almost three years now and every session, bar two or three, I've been training on the wing, even when I have been in the centre. So I've kept myself topped up in that regard.

"I enjoy playing centre and that's where I like to be for Leinster. But it's always in the back of my mind that the possibility is I'll be selected on the wing for Ireland. What I try to do when I'm on the wing is, being I'm a somewhat converted 12, is to look for the ball as much as I can and try to get touches. That doesn't always come off but it's primary in my mind. I also think the game has changed. Even on the blind wing, you are looking to be involved, even if it's just a decoy run."

The work-ethic is strong in the Irish squad. Years of wilting amateurs and wasted games has not traumatised the new generation, many of whom know only the professional way.

"The success we've had in the autumn series and the World Cup qualifiers drives up expectations. But that's no harm when the pressure is coming from winning," says Horgan.

"The Scottish backs do look strong across the line. They've got (Glenn) Medcalfe there playing at full back. (Gregor) Townsend's a talented guy, (Brendan) Laney too. We don't know how they are going to line up but they've no shortage of strong runners.

"For us if the front five don't function the team is going to suffer. But with the guys we have up front that doesn't happen very often. Yes they've four Lions in the pack but I've got no worries about our forwards competing with the Scottish forwards. You look at the guys we've got and you don't need to worry."

It is Horgan's return to a starting point. In February 2000 he made his Irish debut against Scotland while last year injury kept him out of the Wales and England matches. Injury struck again and he came back against Australia at Lansdowne Road in the autumn. There history was made. Ireland broke the Australian code. Say it gently again. Murrayfield.