Otago flanker Hugh Blake, in a surprise selection, was picked for the Scottish Six Nations squad last week, despite having only just arrived in the country and not playing any matches for his new Edinburgh club.
His selection has been roundly criticised by former Scottish players and coaches over the past few days.
Blake's selection mirrors those of former Otago backs John Leslie and Brendan Laney, who both played for Scotland shortly after arriving in Scotland.
Laney, when contacted yesterday, said he had sent a text message to Blake, giving him his support.
''I just texted him and wished him all the best. I said that he has not picked the team. He just has to get out and play well,'' he said.
Laney arrived in Scotland at the end of the 2001 season and said he had no intention of playing for Scotland.
''I had just got off the plane and then I got picked for the Scotland A team and played the All Blacks in Perth,'' he said.
''The Tuesday after the game, Dougie Morgan, the Scotland manager, tapped me on the shoulder to come to training the next day - `you're starting at fullback to play the All Blacks'.
''It was a bit of a shock to the system but I was never going to say no.''
Laney said the players accepted him but there were comments in newspapers about his selection.
''It was hard for my wife. She was back sitting in the flat on her own, reading all the comments about me.''
Laney said maybe he should have played a bit of club rugby in Scotland to show his loyalty to his adopted country. But he did not have to prove his worth as a rugby player, as he had done that back in New Zealand.
''It is tougher for Hugh, as he has only played 20 games for Otago. But he is not picking the side. [Scottish coach] Vern Cotter is a pretty astute coach. He knows what he is doing.''
Laney had no regrets over his international career.
''It was one of the best decisions I ever made. That was 20 tests I would have never played. I don't regret it at all.''
Leslie, who played more than 100 games for Otago, said his intention was to go to Scotland in 1998 for a short stint before playing for the Sanix club in Japan.
''The SRU asked me if I would like to play for Glasgow in the interim, probably knowing about my eligibility to play for Scotland,'' Leslie said.
''I played one game for Glasgow and the next week was selected to join the Scotland team. Eleven days after landing in Scotland, I was playing for the national team against the Boks.''
The Scotland side went on to win the Five Nations in 1999 after starting as a 100-1 outsider.
Leslie said most Scottish players accepted him, although there were some disparaging comments.
''I received a warm welcome from most Scots, especially the Scottish players. However, there were some that commented in the media negatively about me joining the national squad.''
"There were quite a few Kiwis, South Africans, Australians and English guys in the Scotland team at the time. Scotland does not have great depth or large playing numbers to pick from.''
Leslie said it was a great opportunity to play for Scotland and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Over the weekend, former Scottish players Peter Wright and Andy Nicol criticised Blake's selection.
Cotter told Scottish media last week Blake offered a different skill set and was a genuine openside flanker needed for the game he wanted Scotland to play.
Blake did not make the Edinburgh squad last week for its European Challenge Cup match over the weekend and has been playing for the lower-tier Melrose club side in recent weeks.
