Wight: Home Advantage Can Give Us The Edge

Scotland club international stand-off Scott Wight believes that the backing of another vocal Border crowd at Netherdale for the free to attend match against France in a fortnight will help the side make amends for last season’s crushing 13-12 defeat at the Stade Robert Diochon.It was the reliable boot of Wight – named today in the 22 to face France – that provided all the points on the night as Scotland fought back from 10-3 down at the break but, despite being camped on the French try-line in the closing stages, they couldn’t make the final break through.Scotland club international stand-off Scott Wight believes that the backing of another vocal Border crowd at Netherdale for the free to attend match against France in a fortnight will help the side make amends for last season’s crushing 13-12 defeat at the Stade Robert Diochon.It was the reliable boot of Wight – named today in the 22 to face France – that provided all the points on the night as Scotland fought back from 10-3 down at the break but, despite being camped on the French try-line in the closing stages, they couldn’t make the final break through.”I was really gutted at the end of the match because I kicked pretty well that day, putting four out of four over, but we just needed another chance to get the score,” said Wight.”More than 4000 supporters came out in the cold and rain to get behind Scotland A when they beat Tonga at Netherdale in November so hopefully the region will come out in force once more and back the national team.”I think it’s a massive help if the crowd can get behind you, like when we played Ireland at Myreside last season. A big home support that cheers you on throughout can definitely make the difference.”Wight, who has been taking time out from his work as a joiner with local firm JSC Crawford, has been relishing the chance to up his preparations at the home of Scottish Rugby.”I think we’ve prepared far better this season. The skill levels in our squad sessions have been high, which you’d expect from supposedly the best 22 players from Scotland’s club game, but the standard and effort in training has been excellent.”Having sessions at Murrayfield has really helped boost the concentration and intensity of training because it’s international level that we’re having to perform at now so everybody has to be switched on that bit more.”Like all Scottish Rugby youth,  age-grade representative fixtures and Scotland Women matches, admission to Scotland Club International v France at Netherdale on Friday 5 February(kick-off 7.30pm) is FREE.Scotland Club International squad to play France at Netherdale on Friday 5 February, kick-off 7.30pm (1st XV and replacements will be announced next week)Fraser Harkness (Selkirk), Fraser Thomson (Melrose), Malcolm Clapperton (Boroughmuir), Jamie Hunter (Ayr), James King (Melrose), Callum Anderson (Melrose), Andrew MacMahon (Currie), Scott Wight (Melrose), Richard Snedden (Currie), Alan Dymock (Heriots), Gregor Wood (Watsonians), Gordon Reid (Ayr), Scott Burnett (Heriots), Alastair Hamilton (Currie), Alan Brown (Dundee), Damien Kelly (Ayr), Scott Sutherland (Ayr), Rory McKay (Hawks), John Dalziel CAPTAIN (Melrose), Mark Cairns (Currie), Paul Burke (Ayr), Ross Weston (Currie)SCOTLAND CLUB INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:Friday 5 February – Scotland club international v France, Netherdale (kick-off 7.30pm) Friday 19 March – Ireland v Scotland club international (Donnybrook, kick-off 7pm)