Scott made his first team debut as a replacement against Aironi this season

Bath academy centre Nick Scott says his debut start for the club has made him more determined to be involved in the first-team squad.

The 20-year-old was drafted in to Steve Meehan's team for their LV= Cup match against Wasps on Sunday as a late replacement for Matt Banahan.

"These games are used to show that the coaches can trust you," Scott told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Of course I want to be back in a Bath shirt playing with all the boys."

Scott had been training all week with the first-team squad in preparation for the match and was initially named as a replacement.

He's a man of few words but just patted me on the head which is all you need really Nick Scott on Steve Meehan

But with England not releasing Banahan back to Bath, he got his first chance in the starting line-up following two appearances as a replacement this season.

"I'll be honest with you, there were nerves but as soon as you get the ball in your hand the nerves start to go" he said.

"I train with the boys week-in, week-out so that gives you a bit of confidence.

"I know the patterns well and when you're playing in a good structure like Bath it's easy to slot in.

Although disappointed to lose out to Wasps 18-16, Scott was more than happy with the reaction from coach Steve Meehan.

"He's a man of few words but just patted me on the head which is all you need really," he said.

"I got a well done from Geech [Sir Ian McGeechan] and that's all you want."

Scott was just one of several young players to impress Meehan during the game along with full-back Jack Cuthbert and flankers Josh Ovens and Guy Mercer.

But the Bath head coach had further words of encouragement for the young centre.

"He did the basics very, very well and I'm delighted for him," he said.

"That's exactly the right place to start for any rugby player. If you do the basics well then you can build off the back of it."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version