His decision to leave Glasgow last summer, and his criticism of the Glasgow set-up on his departure, led to a number of observers believing he had effectively ruled himself out of the international scene. Mclaren, who has been linked with a return to the Warriors, told the Scotsman: "It's nice to feel that you haven't been thrown out."
"I didn't think I put my position in jeopardy by going to France - I don't know if that was why I was left out - but when I didn't hear anything before or after the autumn Tests I have to admit that I did begin to wonder. But I just got my head down and worked on my fitness and got some good games under my belt, and I've got real confidence from playing a different kind of style in France. It just shows how quickly things can change."