Despite further calls from national director of rugby Jim Telfer for stronger action against English clubs, one of Scotland's International Board members, Allan Hosie, has advised a more cautious approach.

On arrival in Australia, Telfer repeated his claim that English clubs are seeking to marginalise Test rugby, claiming that their own union has already given them too much leeway.

''These clubs want their English club season to dominate rugby and I don't see that being good for international rugby,'' said Telfer. ''The RFU officials are giving into them. I thought the IRB would have taken a stronger line.

''What I'd like to see is a far more structured international season, because what's happened with the agreement with the RFU and the clubs is that international rugby has been squeezed and squeezed into a smaller window.''

Hosie clearly has substantial sympathy with those views, but believes that the International Board should be given time to deal with the situation.

''We have to wait until we get a response from the RFU on the matters that the IB executive committee has asked them to look into,'' he said.

''I don't think the IB would want to appear toothless, but they have clearly had answers on most matters so far that satisfy them that IB regulations have not been broken. They have to tread very carefully, because we live in a litigious society.

''There are a few agencies abroad that are only governed by self-interest and that is a major problem. For example I have read reports that the English clubs want us to move the Five Nations Championship next season.

''It would have been nice if, as chairman of the Five Nations committee, they had made some approach to me about that, but I have heard nothing, other than what has been reported.

''However, I feel it would be remiss to make any statement about the situation until we get the full text from the RFU. I am as keen to get the answers from them as anyone.''

Politics apart, Telfer was also in combative mode on his opening address in Australia when the matter of the quality of the Scotland squad was raised.

''This squad is capable of beating the Wallabies. I wouldn't take a team abroad unless I thought we had a chance of winning,'' he said, shrugging off the lack of top names from his line-up and predicting that a batch of potential World Cup heroes would emerge from his crop of youngsters.

Referring to the absence of some of more experienced men like Alan Tait and Gary Armstrong, he stated: ''I was disappointed at first when they called off, but it doesn't bother me so much now.

''Both are well over 30 and I think their bodies need a rest. Tait can't train for two or three days after games nowadays. His body is near the end of the line as far as top-class rugby is concerned. Some of these players - and some who are on the tour - may not make the World Cup because of age and the accumulation of injuries over the past year.''

One established player who is seeing this tour as a real opportunity, however, is Bryan Redpath. After two years on the sidelines because of a persistent back problem, the Melrose man is top of the scrum-half ladder again through the absence of Armstrong and Andy Nicol.

''When I was injured they took their chances to claim the berth, and I see this trip as my opportunity to do the same for next season,'' he said. ''Even if Andy and Gary were here as well, I would still have the same ambition.

''I am as hungry as ever for Test caps and desperate to get back into the Scotland team - and a winning one at that. My back is fine now and I should have no problems as long as I keep doing the correct exercises.

''No-one in the squad has stopped to think about who is not here. What matters is who is here and the enthusiasm is tremendous.''

With the first encounter against Fiji less than a week away, Telfer wasted no time in getting his preparations into top gear.

Less than two hours after checking into their plush base in sun-baked Broadbeach on Queensland's Gold Coast, he put the squad through a morning session of gruelling session of jogs and sprints.

Despite their 27-hour journey from the UK via Sing-apore, they were back on the training pitch in the late afternoon for an even more rigorous ball-skills stint.

On the build-up to the encounter with Fiji, Telfer declared: ''It is a risk for the first tour match to be a Test, but rugby at this level is a risky business and we need a stiff work-out as early as possible.

''We need to be battle-hardened before facing the likes of New South Wales and Queensland, who will be very tough opposition.''