British & Irish Lions forward Simon Taylor was pleased to finally be back in an international jersey after helping Scotland to an 18-10 Six Nations win over Italy on Saturday.
Matt Williams’ side won their first match in the tournament with a scrappy, forgettable success over Italy at a tension-filled Murrayfield.
Taylor, returning from a year on the treatment table, said: "It’s just a relief to win. It wasn’t an attractive game but we won it. It would have been the end of the world if we hadn’t.
The Edinburgh back-row man is a certain pick for Sir Clive Woodward’s squad for the summer tour to New Zealand, but Taylor was simply delighted to get a win under his belt after a serious knee injury.
Arguably Scotland’s best player, he suffered the problem against Ireland last March and was only able to face Italy – filling the shirt vacated by the injured Jason White – after a short loan spell with Saracens to get him match-fit.
He said: "I don’t think I was particularly brilliant or anything, but it was just enjoyable to back out there again.
"I’m not sure how long it will take to get back to full fitness. I may play for Edinburgh next week before the Wales game but we’ll just have to see what everyone thinks."
