MATT MUSTCHIN will be hoping to add further lustre to a distinguished rugby pedigree when Scotland coach Frank Hadden names his line-up tomorrow for the opening Test against Argentina in Rosario on Saturday.
The 31-year-old lock has gone off on tour with a background more kiwi than kilt as emphasised by the fact that both grandfather, George, and father, Brian, preceded him as a member of the Canterbury team back in his native New Zealand.
But while
the generations may be different it is clear that the Mustchin family have a firm grip of the opportunity Edinburgh second row/flanker Matt, now qualified for Scotland on residency, is ready to grasp with both hands.
"After speaking with my wife the next person I contacted when the invitation came through to tour with Scotland was my Dad.
"He was a prop with Canterbury in the days of (former All Blacks captain and later coach) Grizz Wyllie and has always been there for me when decisions have to be made.
"Dad told me it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play Test rugby and that even though I had a family holiday booked there would be other times when we could travel. He said 'enjoy – and really get yourself involved'."
It is arguably the case that Matt has already upstaged his antecedents having been good enough to represent the All Blacks at under-16 and under-19 level as well as playing nine national provincial championship games for Canterbury.
It is possible, too, that if he had stayed home to build on one appearance for Canterbury Crusaders, against Wellington Hurricanes, in the 2002 season that saw them eventually crowned Super-12 champions, he might have upgraded his cap honours.
But the wanderlust took over and perhaps the seeds were sewn by – appropriately enough – a trip to Scotland. "I count myself fortunate to have been in the Christchurch team that contested the Melrose sevens in 2000 when we reached the final and the following year when our bid ended a round earlier, again at the hands of Fijian opponents.
"On my first trip I stayed with a family in Melrose and later a short distance outside. I got to know the local people including rugby guys like Gary Parker (ex-Melrose) and Richie Gray (ex-Gala) so it wasn't difficult to sign for Edinburgh three years ago after a similar stint at Ulster."
While reluctant to speculate beyond earning his spurs on the current tour to his prospects of facing the All Blacks when they become Scotland's next Murrayfield opponents on November 8, it is clear that Mustchin is not averse to planning ahead.
"When I was a youngster I was a ball boy at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, where Scotland played their opening match of the first World Cup in 1987 and also a quarter-final against the All Blacks It would be great if my own son grew up filling a similar role for Scotland although they may have to wait – he's just 20 months old."
If called upon Mustchin won't be entirely short of representative experience since arriving in the UK as in 2006 he was selected by the Barbarians and had a try-scoring role in 52-42 win over Leicester. Such honours will pale, however, if he gets the nod this weekend while realising he will have to find an extra gear.
"When I took home my Scotland kit and tried it on my wife said it was funny seeing me wear the thistle emblem.
"I just felt like a kid pulling on his first rugby shirt.
"Being the oldest player in the party I can hopefully bring a bit of experience in doing what I have been doing for a few years only on this occasion a bit better.
"I'm not going out to Argentina with the idea of holding tackle bags – I want to challenge for a place."
Meanwhile, if his name is read out by coach Hadden tomorrow the reverberations will be felt across the world, including at Canterbury Crusaders where he is remembered on their website as "hard working".
That is exactly the quality on which Mustchin has based his growing Edinburgh reputation culminating in a man-of-the-match award in the final home match of 2008 against Leinster and if it is true you are only as good as your last game then Scotland will be well served this weekend.
The full article contains 752 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
