Scotland wing Sean Lamont is refusing to contemplate reaching his century of caps at the Rugby World Cup – because he fears he may not even make Vern Cotter’s squad.
The 34-year-old Glasgow veteran will make his 96th appearance for the Dark Blues when they take on Italy at Murrayfield today.
And if he faces France in Paris next weekend, he would be on course to break into three figures when the Scots play their third Pool B match against South Africa in Newcastle.
It would be a huge achievement for the former Northampton and Scarlets back as he joins an exclusive club of Scottish centurions – with Chris Paterson the only other member. But Lamont says he cannot even focus on the milestone until he clinches a place in Cotter’s travelling party.
The Kiwi will break the news to his players tomorrow night on which of them have made the 31-man squad for the tournament before it is announced publicly on Tuesday.
Lamont said: “The 100th cap is there in the background. If I don’t get it, I don’t get it. Whatever is best for Scotland is most important.
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"Reaching that 100 caps cannot be my main focus when there is a World Cup to think about, and it is not. My only focus so far has been on making that 31-man squad.
“For me there is no guarantee. There are some excellent wingers out there and the competition is still very high.
“I don’t want to take anything for granted so that is my mindset. I’m not in the squad yet so I will be sticking to my guns and doing everything I can on the field. Then it will be down to Vern.”
Cotter will hope his side can come through today’s encounter – the last match the Scots will play on home soil before the tournament – unscathed.
Asked if he already had the shape of his squad in mind, Cotter said: “I’d really like to get all the information we need before the squad is named and there are players [already] injured which makes it difficult as well.”
