The 22-year-old Borders player, capped 14 times, is in only his second season of international rugby but he has already established himself in Matt Williams' side and is pushing hard for a British & Irish Lions call-up in the summer.

But after turning in a man-of-the-match performance against France in the first RBS 6 Nations match in Paris, Cusiter was subjected to some rough treatment against the Irish at Murrayfield.

And as he looked forward to the Scots' crucial match against Italy on Saturday, the 22-year-old admits lessons were learned.

He said: "Being targeted had never really happened before the Irish match.

"I don't think I identified it early enough in the game, it kept happening and I was not quite sure why.

"Against France the week before, it was comparatively speaking, something of an easy game for me.

"We got a lot of good ball and there was not a great deal of pressure so I could have a look at the options.

"But against Ireland there was not a lot of time to think about it. Just as I was picking the ball out of the ruck I was being grabbed.

"I did have the ball and it was legal although a couple of times I thought they were offside but there was not a lot I could do about it.

"But then you go back to your skills and what you have been working on by getting the ball away as quickly as possible.

"It was a tough afternoon but it will make me a better player and I will be more prepared for the next time."