Mike Blair calls time on Scotland career

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Mike Blair won 85 caps for Scotland

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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86 comments

  • Comment posted by clever3000, at 10:25 7 Jan 2013

    Great player. Especially at the time when he managed to hold off Rory Lawson and Chris Cusiter. Scotland were blessed with those three and the competition for places ensured great performances from them.

  • Comment posted by U15565117, at 10:50 7 Jan 2013

    Been a great servant for Scotland over the years and in his flowing best was great to watch. Still remember all those high balls taken vs England at Murrayfield in '08, immense.

    Thyanks for all the performances Mike and good luck for the future!

    @The_Boss; Who?

    Clearly an avid watcher of the game.

  • Comment posted by philmus, at 11:24 7 Jan 2013

    Brighton Mummy,

    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.

  • Comment posted by Mike, at 11:14 7 Jan 2013

    2.
    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.

  • Comment posted by Brodie , at 15:01 8 Jan 2013

    @51 sorry but his last two performances at 9 have been dreadful. He provided slow ball and was taking far too long to make decisions. Reese, in both games, made an immediate impact when he came on. Yes this probably is also because he is fresh legs but in general Laidlaw has been fairly uninspiring. I'd start Prygos every game and reluctantly have Laidlaw on bench. I hope he improves soon!

  • Comment posted by U11824256, at 14:40 8 Jan 2013

    @50

    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

  • Comment posted by U15536690, at 16:45 7 Jan 2013

    I would say world class. Perhaps not in the last couple of years once he'd lost a yard of pace but at one stage definitely. Only problem was it perhaps came in between lions tours so widespread recognition wasnt there... if he'd gone to leicester or similar he could have been a superstar behind a big pack.

    Great career Mike, your eye for a gap, link play and cover defence were second to none!

  • Comment posted by Tom Rowlands, at 16:34 7 Jan 2013

    Sorry to hear Mike is retiring. He was a quality player and always conducted himself very well on the pitch. He managed to be very effective without all the arm waving histrionics, ref bashing that most scrum halves seem to exhibit these days. If he does go into coaching I think Stuart Lancaster should hire him just to teach Care and Youngs that skill alone!

  • Comment posted by 8Neill, at 13:25 7 Jan 2013

    So many Scottish players retire internationally far too early. If those guys were still playing, Scotland would look like a far healthier side. I'm not an expert on Scottish rugby but noticed that Scott Murray, Jason White, Nathan Hines, Simon Taylor, Hugo Southwell and now Mike Blair have retired but been playing abroad. I understand that they are in their 30s but many weren't when they retired.

  • Comment posted by U15568409, at 21:37 9 Jan 2013

    @84 Would this be the same M.Phillips who played in 2 Grand Slam winning teams? Is this the same M.Phillips who played in all 3 games during the last Lion's tour, scoring a try in the first ( luck over reading, presumably) and then helping them solidly win the last game? Actually, I seem to remember a certain M.Blair being on that tour, (though you may be forgiven for not remembering that)

  • Comment posted by U15568409, at 20:53 9 Jan 2013

    @ I'm Spartacus!

  • Comment posted by U15392803, at 19:22 9 Jan 2013

    @82 - What has my username got to do with anything? It is just a name of a well known historical figure and a reference to internet banter (as people say I'm Spartacus when they see somebody being boastful on the internet).

    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.

  • Comment posted by Kilted Aussie, at 17:53 9 Jan 2013

    "When we wear the Scotland jersey, we wear it for the thousands of fans that support us around the world; we wear it for the great players that have worn it before us"...please come back Mike and contribute to Scottish rugby. We need you.

  • Comment posted by U15555207, at 16:45 9 Jan 2013

    @'81 What a pile of tripe. Still, with an absurd user name like Sparticus (lol@that one) I can't expect a whole lot.

  • Comment posted by dragonsbreath, at 14:44 9 Jan 2013

    There was a time when Mike Phillips would end up at the bottom of every other ruck, which usually meant a prop tied up at Scrum Half... Mad. He is better in that regard now - but agree his pass is not the quickest. There are times when he definitely tips the balance in Wales favour in the forwards battle - but must admit my preference is for a yapping, sniping old-school scrum-half...

  • Comment posted by U3246151, at 11:26 9 Jan 2013

    68 Jerry

    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"

  • Comment posted by U15499512, at 22:00 8 Jan 2013

    68 jerry - can I just clarify you think a) genia plays behind a dominant pack (he plays for oz right??), and that b) you class genia pienaar and weepu as average to good players!??
    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

  • Comment posted by Brodie , at 20:51 8 Jan 2013

    @61 aye, agree with you on kicking. Edinburgh have not used it to any good effect (apart from Tonks). Will have to agree to disagree with you Laidlaw's performance. Look back over the game if you can and watch how he compares to reese. Reese is considerably faster in my opinion. Laidlaw likes to take his time and I think he is one of the main reasons Edinburghs season had gone so badly.

  • Comment posted by dragonsbreath, at 20:48 8 Jan 2013

    Anglo@74 re God, I guess that's a possibility.

    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...

  • Comment posted by U3246151, at 20:17 8 Jan 2013

    74 Dragonsbreath

    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!

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