Scottish Rugby
Thompson delighted with Scotland call-up
Scrum.com
May 13, 2010
Edinburgh fullback Jim Thompson launches a kick and chase, Edinburgh v Scarlets, Magners League, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 26, 2010
Edinburgh fullback Jim Thompson is the only uncapped player in the squad to face the Pumas © PA Photos
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Jim Thompson celebrated his call up to the Scotland squad for this summer's tour of Argentina by paying tribute to his injured rival Chris Paterson.

The Edinburgh fullback was yesterday named in a 27-man party for the two-match series in Tucuman on June 12 and Mar del Plata a week later. Thompson was the only uncapped player selected as Andy Robinson stuck by the 22 involved in the morale-boosting upset of Ireland in their final Six Nations clash in March.

Thompson, 25, was selected after a number of impressive performances for Edinburgh while his team-mate Paterson remains sidelined with a kidney injury suffered during the Six Nations loss to Wales in February. But Thompson was full of praise for his 32-year-old rival and the influence he has had on his own development.

"He's great. Apparently, he's the oldest in the Edinburgh squad but he doesn't show it at all," said the Scotland 'A' and 7s international. "It's a shame he's missing out through injury but it's a chance for me to stake a claim and do the best I can. He's a good guy to learn from, he's got 100 caps so he's obviously pretty useful. He's just got so much experience and he doesn't just pass it down to me, he passes it down to the rest of the backs at Edinburgh."

Head coach Robinson has brought a renewed sense of optimism to the national team after a decade of struggle and Thompson is looking forward to playing his part in a squad which will not be short of confidence.

"It's great to be involved," added Thompson. "We had a couple of unlucky defeats in the Six Nations and a great win against Ireland to finish. It's definitely something the boys are very proud of and something to carry on in Argentina."

Thompson is also coming into the squad at a good time to stake a claim for next year's World Cup. "Everyone wants to play at the World Cup but it's still a long way away," he said. "There's a season to play before that so you have it at the back of your mind, but you don't dwell on it too much."

Argentina will be one of Scotland's pool opponents in New Zealand, but Robinson insists next month's Tests will have no bearing on that meeting. "We're preparing to beat Argentina," Robinson said. "After that we'll prepare to win the autumn internationals, then the Six Nations. There's a lot of rugby to go before then."

Scotland squad: Backs: Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors, captain), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks (both Glasgow Warriors), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) and Jim Thompson (Edinburgh)

Forwards: John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown (all Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton, Allan Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) and Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester).

Note: Both tour matches will be shown live on BBC2 Scotland and will be available to viewers throughout the rest of the UK via interactive.

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