Scotland’s tough guy in the second row has a phobia about needles and stitches but he’s not scared of Irishmen or unseating British Lions as he makes his first RBS 6 Nations start in Dublin.
Tim Swinson is sporting a nice new set of stitches in a gash below his right eye as he celebrates being picked ahead of Richie Gray to play the opener against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, the scar the result of a clash with replacement prop Geoff Cross.
It won’t stop him taking his place on Sunday afternoon, however a selection on merit ahead of Gray in the eyes of Scott Johnson and forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
Gray became the public face of the Scotland team in his first three seasons and was one of just three Scots to make the original Lions squad for Australia last summer, but Swinson is the man given the nod to pair with Jim Hamilton in the second row.
“Thankfully, that’s not my decision,” said Swinson on being picked ahead of a Lion. “There’s huge competition for places in the second row, five guys who are all Test level players.
“I’m just thankful I’ve been given the opportunity to prove myself and play to the best of my abilities.”
The group of second rows Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray as well have a friendly competition, he added.
“The decision to who they start, who goes on the bench, who doesn’t play, is a tough job,” he said. “All I can do is prove myself as a worthy player this weekend and hopefully put more pressure on the coaches to pick me for England.
“I’ve given myself the best shot I can and if I’m picked, fantastic, and hopefully I’ll do Scotland proud. If I’m not picked it’s because I still have some things to work on and it’s on the full understanding the guys who will play ahead of me are top quality players, you can’t take that away from them.”
At least he looks the part of an enforcer going in to the game, and he certainly couldn’t have picked a better guy to open up a cut Cross is a qualified doctor although Swinson’s not the best when it comes to cuts.
“I wouldn’t let Geoff near me to put the stitches in,” he joked about their clash when the prop’s forehead met his cheek. He came off slightly worse than I did unfortunately.”
“For one horrible moment I thought my cheekbone might have been broken but thankfully it seems to be harder than Geoff’s forehead. The only problem was when I felt the blood I was a bit annoyed because I don’t like getting needles, injections or being stitched and I knew it was coming.
“It’s only five stitches this time, that makes 80 in all, so I’m getting a little better at it. Last year in Dublin an Irish doctor tried to stitch me and I wouldn’t let him until (former Glasgow doctor) Gerry Haggerty came in and did it. Once I’ve had the injection in I’m usually OK, but it’s the injection that’s worst.
“Let’s face it, if I was looking to hold on to my good looks, I’d be screwed by now!”
Ireland is a major challenge, but Swinson is starting to come into his own as a test player, believes Scott Johnson.
“Tim’s been exemplary for us, in the summer against formidable opposition and in the game against Japan before he was injured,” said the head coach. “He’s also been playing well for Glasgow, so I think he warrants a run and not to do so would discredit what we’re trying to do here.
“Richie climbed a mountain to get on the Lions series, and by his own admission he was a slow starter this season but there’s been a change of form, he’s turned the corner.
“But I go back to that we don’t want divine right, we don’t want any walk-up caps. You’ve got to do the deed, and we thought the combination of Swinno and Jim spoke of that.”