Morrison wants more

Morrison was part of the Scotland side that ended the 2010 Six Nations with a shock 23-20 triumph at Croke Park.

The 27-year-old has been a key figure in Glasgow's Magners League successes so far this season but has been largely under-rated when it comes to the international scene.

Known for his immense defensive strengths and a solid ball-carrying game, Morrison now hopes Scotland's new attacking adventure will pay dividends not only for the side but also for his own reputation.

"Scotland now are trying to play some ambitious rugby," said Morrison after Andy Robinson's men avoided the Wooden Spoon courtesy of a Johnnie Beattie try and 18 points from Dan Parks in Dublin.

"We move the ball about the pitch, whereas in the past we haven't done that so much.

"I'm delighted I got a good bit of ball in my hands and was able to do a bit with it.

"I played a bit better in the England game than I had done in the tournament and I used that as my baseline to improve game on game.

"I knew I needed another big game for the team and for myself. I believe I played quite well."

Morrison's assessment of his own performance is a typically modest one. To say he played 'quite well' is a massive understatement.

Faced with one of the most-respected centre combinations in world rugby in Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll, Morrison and Edinburgh's Nick de Luca were the dominant midfield force in Dublin.

De Luca wasn't first-choice at the start of the championship but Morrison believes the relationship the two have on the park could really blossom if they are the given the chance to put a run of games together.

"Me and Nick had been talking all week about developing our relationship together," added Morrison.

"We keep on talking to each other on the pitch and that just makes it easier.

"The ball we were getting to run at them with was really good and they didn't get the opportunities that we did, and we managed to dominate in that area."

As for Scotland's chances of continued improvement, Morrison's message follows a similar theme: build relationships, remember the joy of winning and stick together whatever the circumstances.

"We've got to hold on to this. We've got to hold on to the feeling.

"We came across here and no-one really thought we could win that game.

"From what I gather back home, we were clinging onto hope that the game was going to go by fairly painlessly.

"We've got to get confidence from it, stay together as a squad and bring that confidence forward into (the summer tour of) Argentina and then further."