The most important was Garth Ritchie, of Wyndham, who used to play with his father, Kevin, in Bannockburn.
"I appreciate the backing my friends gave me," Scott told the Otago Daily Times after the transtasman series finished yesterday.
The New Zealand men lost the series to a strong Australian team. The sides were even on match points but Australia had a better differential - plus six compared to minus six.
The women's team won its series against Australia 14-10 and pulled the combined New Zealand team to an overall test win of 26-22.
It was Scott's first taste of international bowls and he must be a frontrunner to retain his place for World Bowls in Adelaide next year.
Scott (45), a Cromwell fencing and paving contractor, won four of his six games as second in the triples and fours.
The triples and fours were the most consistent of the New Zealand men's teams and won two of their three games.
Singles player Shannon McIlroy and the pair of Matt Gallop and Ali Forsyth won just one of their three games.
Scott first held the dream of playing for his country at the age of 15 when his father, Kevin Scott, represented New Zealand for the first time against Australia in 1980.
Shaun was pitted against a strong Australian team that included the men's triples combination of Brett Wilkie, Wayne Turley and Mark Casey (skip) who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year.
Scott was not overawed by the occasion. He played the bowls and not the man.
"I played bowls just like any other day," he said.
"I just tried to keep my bowls handy. It was a good learning experience."
He was not completely satisfied with his bowls and highlighted areas that can be improved.
"I struggled at times and need to sharpen up a bit," he said.
"There are aspects of my game I need to work on."
Playing international bowls was a new experience for Scott who noted how the Australians handled pressure.
"I also took note of how we handled the pressure ourselves," he said.
The return of Jo Edwards to the international arena helped the women's team beat Australia for the first time in a transtasman series since 2006.
The World Bowls champion pair of Edwards and Val Smith used their experience to win their three games.
The last game yesterday was vital to New Zealand's overall win. The pair trailed 12-7 after 12 of the 18 ends but scored on all of the last six ends to win 18-12.
They had the ability to apply pressure at crucial times and came back from 11-0-11 in one game and 7-0 in another to win.
The women's triples combination of Genevieve Baildon, Jan Shirley and Jan Khan won two of their three games.
