Scotland have acquired a significant fillip forward of the Autumn Nations Series with a trio of Glasgow forwards taking “large steps ahead” of their makes an attempt to be obtainable for subsequent month’s Checks.
Key tighthead prop Zander Fagerson, who was compelled to overlook the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia with a calf harm earlier than subsequently choosing up a knee situation within the fitness center throughout his rehabilitation in pre-season, has not performed for six months.
No.8 Jack Dempsey was on the verge of constructing his aggressive return a fortnight in the past in Glasgow’s URC opener in opposition to Sharks after six months out with a hamstring harm, earlier than pulling out with a groin situation sustained within the warm-up.
Flanker Rory Darge, in the meantime, sustained MCL injury in his knee in opposition to the Sharks on 26 September, with an estimated four-to-six weeks restoration time leaving him a race to be match for the beginning of the collection in opposition to USA on 1 November or Scotland’s largest autumn Check in opposition to New Zealand per week later.
However Glasgow head coach Franco Smith delivered a constructive bulletin on all three gamers on Friday, with Dempsey and Fagerson probably in line for some game-time over the subsequent fortnight – Glasgow have an away journey to Ospreys subsequent weekend and a house recreation in opposition to Bulls on 24 October – earlier than Scotland’s internationals get beneath manner.
“I’m excited,” Smith said. “All three of them have made big improvements this week, big steps forward.
“With Jack, I have just watched him run out there. He looks in good form and might be available for selection next week. We’ll obviously wait for the final clearance around that on Monday or Tuesday.
“Zander also has been training well. He’s done his RTP (return-to-play) skills and running work. He’s progressing very nicely.
“Rory Darge is out of his brace and he’s been pain-free. That leads to progression from an RTP perspective.
“So some big steps forward and a compliment to the medical team and the S&C staff that worked really hard this week to make sure those boys get a fair chance of being selected for Scotland in the autumn series.”
Fagerson’s brother Matt, who started both Glasgow’s opening URC games against Sharks and Benetton at No.8, picked up an ankle knock and misses Saturday’s house fixture in opposition to Dragons, however Smith mentioned the back-rower was going to be rested anyway.
“If this was a semi-final or quarter-final or remaining (he may play),” he defined. “But it surely’s within the center (of a five-week block of URC matches). All of the Scottish gamers which have an opportunity to play within the autumn collection shall be concerned in 4 out of the 5 video games, to verify we give them sufficient time to be totally match, sufficient continuity in some instances, but in addition sufficient time to reset them earlier than they go into the autumn Check matches. We don’t need them to play seven, eight video games on the trot initially of the season.”
One other Scotland contender, Alex Craig, a summer time signing from Scarlets, will make his debut for Warriors on Saturday after shaking off a hamstring harm, becoming a member of Lion Scott Cummings within the second row.
“I’m trying ahead to seeing him play,” Smith mentioned of the 28-year-old, who received the final of his six Scotland caps in opposition to Australia final autumn. “We tried to get him right here final 12 months already and it didn’t work out that manner.
“He educated actually arduous to get again into form after his harm main into the primary a part of the pre-season, so we’re excited so as to add him to the Warrior household.
“He’s a set-piece pushed participant. His breakdown work is de facto good, whether or not or not it’s carrying or cleansing. Typically that’s what a No. 4 lock brings you. I don’t wish to name him an old-school lock, however he’s a tough employee, a no-nonsense sort of participant. He’ll deliver some grunt that we count on from that place in our group.”
There are additionally additional alternatives in opposition to Dragons for the versatile Euan Ferrie – one in all Smith’s hybrid ‘flocks’ – to begin at No.8 and Maccenzie Duncan, participant of the match in opposition to Benetton, at openside, whereas someday Scotland full-back Ollie Smith takes over from Stafford McDowall at exterior centre, the place he was additionally deployed final season on his return from a long-term knee harm.
“He’s going to play full-back for us, he’s performed on the wing – good utility,” Smith mentioned. “It’s about having good rugby gamers – Stafford’s been on the facet of the scrum – and having the most effective gamers on the market. In the event that they’re keen and able to transfer and keen to be seen as hybrid gamers, individuals that may play totally different roles, it makes their probability for choice so a lot better. But it surely additionally enhances the possibility to play for Scotland in varied roles.”
One Glasgow participant who hasn’t discovered favour with Scotland is hooker Johnny Matthews, a cult hero at Warriors having scored 48 tries in 99 video games (and solely 48 begins) for the membership over the previous 5 years.
Matthews, 32, completed because the URC’s prime try-scorer when Glasgow received the title in 2023-24, ending with 15 total in 23 membership video games, after 13 in 19 the earlier 12 months. He added one other 9 final 12 months to maneuver joint-third on Warriors’ all-time record alongside Tommy Seymour, with simply George Horne (59) and DTH van der Merwe (54) forward of him.
However regardless of marking his Scotland debut with a strive as a substitute in opposition to Romania on the 2023 World Cup, Matthews has solely added yet another cap – in opposition to Portugal final autumn – to his assortment.
“I believe Johnny’s an excellent membership participant and the uncommon alternatives that he acquired to play at Check degree, I believe he was pressured,” Smith mentioned. “I believe the expectation round him was totally different.
“He may have performed extra Check match rugby, however he has performed in an period the place there have been some good hookers about they usually’ve had quite a lot of caps. I believe he’s had his alternative there however so long as he retains on making himself higher – I do know he’s previous the 30 mark (32) now – he’s nonetheless acquired sufficient in him to maintain asking these forms of questions to have the ability to play there.”
Matthews is certain to get a heat welcome from the Scotstoun trustworthy when he makes his one hundredth look for the membership off the bench in opposition to the Dragons.
“Individuals like gamers that rating tries,” Smith added. “He doesn’t disappoint from that perspective. He’s a try-scoring machine for the membership. He’s executed rather well behind the maul for us and he’s clearly added quite a lot of worth.
“He’s an brisk individual to have across the constructing. He had some good hookers that he began off with, between Fraser Brown and George Turner. He saved on gaining alternatives and he made full use of them.
“To get to 100 video games for any participant is an enormous praise, however to do it right here is an especially good achievement. The factor that stands out is that Johnny is an efficient individual and he’s additionally a great affect on the group. I’m very happy with him.”
Glasgow group v Dragons:15 Josh McKay; 14 Kyle Steyn (C), 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie; 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 3 Fin Richardson, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Macenzzie Duncan, 8 Euan Ferrie.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Dan Lancaster.
