Six Nations: Scotland wing Sean Lamont calls for high balls against Italy

Scotland wing Sean Lamont wants to apply more pressure via the use of high balls in Saturday's clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

Vern Cotter's side have been narrowly beaten in their Six Nations openers - going down 15-8 in France before succumbing to Wales 26-23 in a thriller.

There is nothing worse when you are standing under a ball that's dropping on you and you know you can't get any more than a standing jump.

Promising young fly-half Finn Russell is banned for the Italy clash having been sin-binned during the Wales defeat for taking the man out in the air - a result of one of many effective 'up and unders' used by his opposite number Dan Biggar.

Lamont believes Scotland can benefit from adopting a similar tactic, and said: "The high ball is a highly effective weapon. Biggar is good at it and got his rewards that day.

"Not only did he win the ball but we ended up with a man in the bin for 10 minutes. So when you are good at it, it's definitely a great tactic.

"There is nothing worse when you are standing under a ball that's dropping on you and you know you can't get any more than a standing jump. If you are facing someone running at pace, you know they are going to out climb you. It's physics.

"So yeah, we can take a leaf out of Wales' book and use it in the right areas. You can get a lot of rewards from it."

Veteran scrum-half Chris Cusiter, who was recalled to the squad along with props Moray Low and Alex Allan and loose forwards David Denton and Adam Ashe, believes Russell's retrospective two-week suspension is harsh.

'Complicated'

The Sale star said: "It was a tough one for Finn because there was obviously no malice," said the 32-year-old Sale player. "He was trying to protect himself in a difficult situation.

"It's a hot topic this year. It seems anyone who goes to contest in the air and the other guy ends up hurt, it is a yellow or red card.

"It's a complicated issue. It could have been worse for Finn, he could have been given a red but it was costly because Wales scored when he was off. But for me, it's a really tough decision to say he did the wrong thing there.

It's a hot topic this year. It seems anyone who goes to contest in the air and the other guy ends up hurt, it is a yellow or red card.

"The referees are in a difficult position because they take directives on what the party line is. There are some issues which are real grey areas and that is one of them. I have a lot of empathy for the refs because they are under pressure to make a call.

"But you need common sense and it has to come from the top. Finn was not trying to endanger the player. He was caught in a difficult position, so you would hope common sense would prevail."