Scotland unleash 'Killer B's'
February 04 2010
Kelly Brown is relishing the chance to transfer Glasgow's 'Killer Bs' back row of Beattie, Brown and Barclay into the Test arena.
The trio will start together for the first time for Scotland in Sunday's Six Nations opener against France at Murrayfield.
The trio are cult favourites at Firhill but not for much longer, with blindside flanker Brown having decided to leave for Saracens at the end of the season.
Yet, the 27-year-old hopes to maintain the bond he has formed with Barclay and Beattie on the international stage, starting this weekend.
"Obviously, it's great," he said of that prospect and of the moniker the trio have been awarded.
"The fans seem to like it but, as a unit on Sunday, we'll just try to get stuck into the French and do as well as we can."
Barclay, Beattie and Brown have been central to Glasgow's rise to the top of the Magners League this season and the latter believes keeping that back row intact at Test level could help Scotland get off to a winning start.
"I think it's got to really because, obviously, we've played as a unit time and time and time again," he said.
"We know each other's game and I would say that's only going to help."
And the trio's relationship runs deeper than that of colleagues, with Brown adding: "I actually used to share a flat with Johnnie Beattie, so we're very close."
The 'Killer Bs' were just three of nine Warriors selected by Andy Robinson for his first Six Nations game as head coach.
"It's only a good thing," said Brown of the dominant influence Sean Lineen's side now have in the Scotland set-up.
"Things at Glasgow are going well and it obviously shows through with the squad that's been picked."
Despite boasting more caps than his two team-mates combined, Brown would have been the one to miss out this weekend had pack leader Alasdair Strokosch not suffered an ankle injury.
Indeed, the vast majority of Brown's 30 Scotland appearances have been earned from the bench, with the last of his 11 starts coming two years ago.
"It's great to be back in the starting team," he said, acknowledging he needed a standout performance to prevent a fit Strokosch reclaiming the number six jersey.
He added: "I'm focusing on Sunday and I'm not thinking any further ahead than that.
"So it's just up to me to go out and show what I can do."
Robinson has demanded a winning start, with Scotland having struggled in the last three championships after losing their opening game.
Indeed, their last successful tournament came off the back of a victory over France in 2006.
Brown said: "Obviously, the first game's a massive thing in such a short tournament, so we're fully focused on starting well on Sunday."
And although Brown is reluctant to look too far ahead, he believes his move to Saracens - currently flying high in the Guinness Premiership - will boost his chances of becoming a Scotland regular in years to come.
"I certainly hope so," he said.
"I'm hoping it's going to push me on to become a better player."
Of ending his four-year Glasgow career, the former Edinburgh star added: "It's purely a personal thing.
"It's basically just a different challenge going down there, trying to play in a different league.
"Also, I think Saracens are going well and there's an exciting squad being put together down there."