Scotland 7s' Stuart McInally and Scott Newlands

In an exclusive interview with www.scottishrugby.org, Scotland 7s forwards Stuart McInally [pictured] and Scott Newlands talk about their plans to add a formidable front to the side’s game plan in the Emirates Airline London Sevens this weekend, one week out from the Series finale at Murrayfield.

The pair, who each weigh-in around 16 stone, were keen to express that while the perception of the abbreviated game is one of out and out pace, there is an intense, physical side that they aim to tackle head on.

Newlands said: “Being able to compete physically is really important to the modern sevens game, it speaks volumes that the top three sides in the World Series’ standings, England, Samoa and New Zealand, are also the most physical sides.

“Traditionally sevens is considered a pace-man’s game but you’ve got to be able to match that pace with the ability to win ball, kick offs and lineouts, as well as being to bring it to the table at ruck-time.

“I enjoy testing myself against great players who have pace – like Andrew Turnbull in our squad who gives teams across the world real headaches – but you look forward to that challenge because if you get hold of them, being one of the bigger guys, you really enjoy putting them away.”

Scotland will open the London tournament against Series’ champions Samoa in the 10.30am tie before lining up against defending Cup holders Australia (1.58pm) and completing Pool C against Canada (4.54pm) to determine their fate on day two.

McInally said: “It’s no doubt we’re in a tough group but if we can get certain parts of our game right, like the restarts, like the lineouts, we’ve got a real chance of qualifying for the Cup quarter-finals.

“One of the areas that I’ll be looking to impose my game is in the contact area, driving through contact, putting in dominant tackles. I’ll be one of the bigger guys on the pitch so hopefully I can bring that physicality, as that’s really why I’m in the squad, it’ll be up to me and Scott to use our power and dominate.”

The following Saturday (28 May) the HSBC Sevens World Series heads north to Murrayfield where Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Plate holders, Scotland, will face another tough assignment: Pacific Islanders and renowned sevens specialists Samoa and Fiji, as well as Series regulars USA on day one (Saturday 28 May).

Last season the Scots performed heroics on home soil, beating Fiji, Wales and the USA before trumping both South Africa and Argentina on day two to win the silver platter.

SCOTLAND SEVENS SQUAD FOR THE EMIRATES AIRLINE LONDON SEVENS, Twickenham, Saturday/Sunday 21/22 May: Tom Brown (Edinburgh), Struan Dewar (Edinburgh elite development player), Michael Fedo (Team Northumbria), Fraser Harkness (Selkirk), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Scott Newlands (Edinburgh), Scott Riddell (Stewart’s Melville), Ross Samson (Edinburgh), Andrew Skeen (Watsonians), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)

SCOTLAND SEVENS SQUAD FOR LONDON AND EDINBURGH LEGS OF THE HSBC SEVENS WORLD SERIES: Tom Brown (Edinburgh), Struan Dewar (Edinburgh), Michael Fedo (Team Northumbria), Graham Fisken (West of Scotland), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser Harkness (Selkirk), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Scott Newlands (Edinburgh), Scott Riddell (Stewart’s Melville), Ross Samson (Edinburgh), Andrew Skeen (Watsonians), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)