Johnny Beattie could be facing the most crucial hour of his entire rugby career against Ireland in this Saturday’s EMC Test, balancing the need to impress while withstanding “a huge pressure environment.”
The Glasgow number eight was Scotland’s first choice before electing to undergo surgery on a shoulder problem at the end of last season, but struggled to recapture his dynamic best when returning to action perhaps prematurely this spring.
Now he’s part of the experimental back row for Scotland’s warm-up test for the World Cup knowing that failure to make an impact might have a profound effect on his career.
“Basically it’s 60 minutes to play your way on or off,” he said. “It’s great to be named in the team and get a chance, but the flipside is that it’s a huge pressure environment it’s going to make or break.
“I’d say it could be the biggest game of my career to date, with a view to the next six months. I’ll be out of contract and I could either be going to a World Cup or staying back at Glasgow. That’s all decided in the next three weeks.
“I suppose the frightening thing is that all this is based on one game, but you’ve got to relax and try and play your natural game because, if you let the pressure get to you, you’ll crumble.”
Saturday’s trio of Beattie, Al Strokosch and Ross Rennie are joined by young replacement David Denton as well as John Barclay, Kelly Brown, Richie Vernon and Rob Harley in the shakedown for probably six places on the trip.
“In my option, the back row is the fiercest contest of the entire squad, because there’s so many possible combinations, and we’re all in peak condition,” said Beattie.
“Back in the spring I could have done nothing, but I pushed the physios to let me play, and what happened in the last year has all been down to me.
“Now that I’ve had my first full pre-season in three years, I feel I’ve made strides. Everyone’s improved considerably over the last two to three months. Instead of mass gain we’ve made strength gains, and we’re fitter rather than bulkier.”
Rennie, meanwhile, is just happy to be in with a shout after a long and protracted recovery from a knee injury.
“My goal was always to get back playing and from there just looking a bit further ahead at a time, and getting a start again for Scotland has been a goal for a long time,” said the six-times capped 25-year-old, who underwent a strictly-scheduled comeback programme lasting more than a year to protect against further knee damage.
“It was a long process, and I have to thank everyone who helped me, but the things I learned during that spell have definitely helped me to progress.
“Now I look after my body better with very simple things I know about good training, right preparation, cooling down, and mentally being a little bit more calm.”
In Rennie’s case the old cliche about getting into the team being easier than staying there may not be all that accurate, but it doesn’t change the task before him on Saturday.
“The weekend is all it comes down to in the end,” he said. “I know and realise that back row is a huge contest for who gets to New Zealand and who doesn’t.”