Gregor Townsend has watched Sam Johnson take Scotland to his heart – now he insists the Australia-born centre fully deserves his chance to represent his adopted nation.
The Glasgow centre is set to win his first Test cap after being named in Townsend's team for Saturday's opening Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy.
Raised Down Under in Queensland, the 25-year-old is eligible to represent the Scots on residency grounds having chalked up four years at Scotstoun.
He may not have been given his chance to face the Azzurri had a knee injury not ruled out his Warriors team-mate Pete Horne but Townsend has no concerns over handing Johnson his first taste of international action.
He said: "It's been a few months in coming for Sam. He was going to be in our squad for the November Tests then got injured the weekend before we came into camp.
"He's been in Scotland for over three years now, worked his way into the Glasgow team and then became one of their best players.
"His parents are flying over from Australia but he's settled in Scotland and feels very much part of our country. I do think he's ready for this next step up.
FULL STORY | Johnson to debut in Guinness Six Nations opener, with former #FosrocAcademy hooker Jake Kerr & back-row Gary Graham on the bench #AsOne ➡️ https://t.co/1Zol4YKBC4 pic.twitter.com/im2Wbd2s5g — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) January 31, 2019
"You need a body of work behind you, you need to perform at the highest level for your club, which is the Champions Cup. Two seasons ago he played some excellent games for Glasgow in that competition and was voted the players' player of the season.
"He's also played well this year when he's had those opportunities."
There could also be first caps for Leicester hooker Jake Kerr and Newcastle flanker Gary Graham if they make it off the bench.
Graham – whose father George also played for Scotland – is back in the Scotland camp after a dalliance with Eddie Jones' England set-up 12 months ago.
Although born in Stirling, he qualified for the Auld Enemy having spent his teenage years living south of the border.
He appeared to have nailed his colours to the Red Rose mast when said last year he would love to face Scotland and "shove it in their faces".
But Townsend has no doubts over where the 26-year-old's loyalties.
"Gary played age-group for Scotland and club internationals," he said. "His dad was a great player for Scotland, someone who was Scottish through and through. Gary will play with pride and passion if he gets the opportunity off the bench.
"I think his comments were taken out of context when he was joking around with his dad in the living room. He learnt he has to watch what he says. Sometimes if you don't mean something you'd better not say it.
"Gary has been brought up a proud Scot. He had an opportunity last year but we were too slow off the mark and England offered him that chance to go to their training camp. We're just delighted he's now available to us."
Full-back Stuart Hogg claims his side are on the verge of achieving something "incredibly special" this year but Townsend struck a more cautious note ahead of the big championship kick-off.
He said: "The Six Nations is over five games. There is belief going into it because we know what our players are capable of and what they've done in the past.
"But it will be an incredibly tough tournament.
"We'll have to be as accurate as possible from the opening game and carry any momentum we get in that. But this will be as tough a game as we'll face."
