Mike Blair calls time on Scotland career
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Mike Blair, Scotland's most-capped scrum-half, is stepping down from international rugby.
The 31-year-old made 85 appearances for Scotland over 10 years and skippered his country on 14 occasions.
"I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to decide myself when my international career ends," announced Blair. "For me, that time is now."
Blair, who moved to Brive from Edinburgh in the summer, scored seven international tries.
"A place in the squad at the World Cup in 2015 is not a realistic personal target and, with that in mind, it's right for Scottish rugby and the Scotland team, that other players gain experience in a pivotal position," he explained.
"There's no doubt that moving our family to France has played a part in my decision. Our son Rory is now at school here and we have an 11-week-old daughter, Lucy, who was born in Brive.
"However, it's a combination of reasons that's led to my standing down from international rugby, not just one factor.
"I have enjoyed immensely representing my country for more than 10 years and will miss that exhilarating feeling of running out to a capacity crowd with the whole country behind you.
"The noise when leading the team out for the first time as captain at Murrayfield against England in 2008, when we won 15-9, still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it.
"I want to thank everyone - my family, the Scotland management teams past and present, my team mates and our supporters - for their enormous contribution to my international career. I have been very fortunate to have these people around me."
Blair toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and was nominated for IRB World Player of the Year in 2008.
He made his Scotland debut against Canada in 2002 and last played in November's defeat to South Africa at Murrayfield.
With Blair retiring, Scotland's interim head coach Scott Johnson will hope Glasgow's Chris Cusiter can recover from injury in time for the Six Nations campaign.
Henry Pyrgos, Rory Lawson and Greig Laidlaw are other options for the number nine jersey.
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Thyanks for all the performances Mike and good luck for the future!
@The_Boss; Who?
Clearly an avid watcher of the game.
Laidlaw only played at stand off when both Edinburgh's options were injured long term. He has played most of his rugby at scrum half and has reverted to that position with Edinburgh in recent weeks. He is just not physically big enought to play at 10 and repeatedly has been targeted by the opposition because of his size.
The_Boss
"who?"
You really have no idea do you? You're clearly not someone who understands little about Rugby and I suspect that you base you opinion on very limited information.
IMO, I would have to go a long way back, certainly at least 20 years to find an England scrum half that i would rather have had over the then, Scotland counterpart.
Scotland has had some excellent scrum halfs in the past 20 years, England, of hand, have not produced a vastly superior one, and not many equals
Great career Mike, your eye for a gap, link play and cover defence were second to none!
Is Jerry your real name? Do you have anything constructive to respond to my post? If the answer to both questions is no, I can't quite grasp the meaning of your presence here.
Sorry, can't agree about MIke Phillips. Of course anyone who gets to play regularly for their country is a very good player. That's not in doubt.
He falls down on tactical vision and his pass isn't as fast as the very best. His weakness lies in his desire to mix it with the opposition forwards, which he can because he's a big lad. He should just do more passing and a lot less "mixing"
And you claim I don't understand the game by not thinking mike Philips is not world class!! This forum has some jokers!!
P.s what bias?? I'm not from any SANZAR union I'm welsh
Yep, Mike Blair was always sharp and skilful. Quite young still, too. Could have moved to Wales instead of France. Though admittedly the wine's not quite as good...
Believe me, people like "God" make me embarrassed to be English. So much so that I strongly suspect that he isn't English at all.
Anyway...the point. Mike Blair...good player and one of a succession of good Scottish scrum halves. My favourite being Gary Armstrong.
My current favourite is Joe Simpson at Wasps. A really feisty player but a bit outside the fold!