Chris Cusiter Scotland scrum-half

Chris Cusiter takes time out from preparations for the Six Nations match with Wales to answer some of your many e-mails.

How much confidence has the Scotland rugby team still got as a group after the defeat from England?
Ross Grant, Scotland

As a group, we have confidence in what we are trying to do, the players we have, and the coaching set up. Although Saturday was not the result we were after, the upside is that we have a big game this week against Wales and are determined to get the right result.

How would you respond to Jeremy Guscott's remarks that he doesn't know where our ability to score tries will come from. Why do you think Scotland lacks the ability to score strong back line tries against teams such as England?
Andrew Mabbitt, Newbury

There is, apparently, more than one way to skin a cat, and scoring tries is no different. A try is a try, no matter how it is scored. We have confidence in our ability to score tries, whether Jeremy Guscott knows where they are coming from or not. Although the result wasn't as we would have liked, we did score a try through the backs last Saturday and two in total. We are hoping to build on that this week at Murrayfield.

Although the Six nations is a massively important competition, how much is this year's competition about getting combinations right and getting players game time in the international environment in order to have a settled squad ready for the World Cup?
Tom, Edinburgh

This may sound a bit like the party line, but I honestly don't think many of the players will be thinking about the World Cup right now. The teams which do well in the Six Nations will go into the World Cup with the most confidence and so that takes care of itself. As players we focus on the next game, which for us is Wales, and we'll be doing everything we can to get the right result.

I was just wondering what it was like starting out as Gary Armstrong's understudy at the Borders and what sort of wisdom did he pass on to you?
Ross Balfour, Melrose

It was great timing from my point of view, to coincide my first year of professional rugby with Gary's last. You pick up little bits and pieces just from training with somebody like that - his skills practices, his repetoire of scrum-half tricks that he had picked up from years in the game at the top level, and his outlook on how to play rugby. It was excellent as a young player to have somebody of his stature to learn from.

I have to confess I am rather a vocal supporter when it comes to watching at Murrayfield, but do you really hear the crowd or is it all just a blur?
Catriona Fyffe, Carnoustie

Hi Catriona, you definitely do hear the crowd as a whole - being on the pitch can be very loud at times which makes it very difficult to hear calls etc... It's more difficult to hear individuals, but the noise and support of a home crowd are a great advantage to have.

Could you share a little about the type of training the boys do in the gym? Just curious if you use power-lifting training or more bodybuilding/olympic weightlifting style training?
Jon, Mons, Belgium

I couldn't possibly divulge our gym secrets... Well ok, a few. Everyone is different - I haven't progressed past the pink weights yet, but am hoping to get onto the blue ones this summer. The rest of the squad do different sessions depending on the day of the week and also time of the year. They are a mix between bodybuilding, Olympic lifting and power-lifting. Mark Bitcon (our fitness coach) is the main man in the gym and we basically do what we are told!

As a scrum-half you frequently must find yourself tackling big back and second rows. What advice would you give for a small player tackling players much bigger than themselves?
Simon, Ireland

Hmmm... I would say hit them low, hard and cling on with all your might! Quite old fashioned advice, but it 's probably the best advice I've had.

Who are your best mates in rugby?
Charlie, Bristol

My main buddies are Andy Henderson, Calum MacRae and Bruce Douglas

If you would like to ask Chris a question during the course of the Six Nations, fill in the form at the top right of this page.