Sean Maitland had a firm but friendly answer to the English journalist asking if he was “a Scotsman, and adopted Scot, or whatever you are”.
“Scottish heart, mate,” said the 24-year-old New Zealand-born wing who as widely predicted goes straight into the Scotland team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against England at Twickenham.
After just five games for Glasgow, Maitland still feels it is a little surreal to be catapulted to an international debut so soon, but his grandfather Stan, a former Clydeside welder, imbued his son John and grandsons with the pride of the homeland from an early age after the family moved to Christchurch.
“I’m so honoured to be selected and hopefully I can do the jersey justice,” said Maitland. “I don’t think it’ll really hit me until I pull on the jersey and see the thistle.”
When the news was relayed back to New Zealand, the reaction was ecstatic, he added.
“Dad’s not a man of great emotion but I could hear just how proud he was when I was speaking to him,” continued Sean.
Interim head coach Scott Johnson didn’t hesitate in making Maitland his only new cap in his first selection, fulfilling his mantra of “form and future”.
“I see him as a big part of the future,” said Johnson. “He’s got a skill set I can’t coach but I’ll certainly stand up there and take the credit given the chance.
“He’s got a good pedigree and he’s a valuable acquisition for Scotland going forward.”
Johnson doesn’t have a minute for those in Scotland who have doubts about Maitland’s fast-track into the team on the grandparent rule.
“We can be so insular, but look at New Zealand, the best rugby nation in the world, and the Tongans, the Samoans plus how many more Island boys end up playing for the All Blacks,” he said.
“Look at the team we’re playing at the weekend, the largest population base of rugby players in the world, and there’s a substantial number of non-English boys in that squad.
“This is not a reflection on Scotland, it’s a reality of professional sport. And in the case of Sean Maitland, his family is very, very proud of their Scottish ancestry.
“He’s a young man who wants to play and he understands the history and he’s Scottish.”
Maitland thinks that the Scots are “going to shock a few” in this year’s Six Nations.
“There’s fresh faces, a new coach and the vibe is really positive,” he continued. “As a new player coming in, I felt it straight away. There’s a lot of confidence floating around the team.
“The stuff I’ve learned I’ve brought from the Crusaders, and I’ll keep to those values, try and bring them into this environment for myself and the guys around me.
“My form’s been up and down since I got here, and I feel I’ve got a lot more to give. I’m just really excited and can’t wait to get out there.”
Maitland is unlikely to be flustered by Twickenham, having played there in front of a near full-house when his Super 15 team, the Crusaders, were nomadic following the Christchurch earthquake a couple of years ago.
“I’ve got a clue what it’ll be like but I love big crowds and big stadiums.
“It’ll be a hell of an atmosphere and I can’t wait to get out there,” he added. “We haven’t won there for 30 years and that’s all the motivation you could need. It’s probably the biggest match of my career.
“For me, it’s planning through the week and gaining confidence that when you go out there you know you’ve done everything to prepare that you can. That’s how I approach every game.”
And the thorny question of the anthem?
He smiled. “I learned it at high school. We had a Scottish music teacher, Mr Townsend, no relation to Gregor, so I know it well.”