Players keen to perform better after long break
SOUTHERN Kings head coach Deon Davids says his team will be refreshed and eager to improve when they face Glasgow Warriors in a Pro14 match in Scotland next Friday.
Davids also spoke about the contrasting preparations the two teams are experiencing ahead of what promises to be a hard-fought game.
While the Kings have had a threeweek break since their last game against Benetton Treviso, Glasgow have been busy campaigning in the European Champions Cup.
Last Saturday, Glasgow went down to English champions Exeter Chiefs and this weekend they host Leinster in another Cup game.
Asked about the pros and cons of a three-week rest, Davids said: “It is always a difficult one, and our players needed the rest after the long [trips] up and down to Europe to play in Wales and Italy. So the break came at the right time.
“It is challenging, but we welcomed the rest because we could revisit some stuff on and off the field that we wanted to address.
“For the Glasgow team, staying in the game and playing against good opposition and keeping on building momentum is also a big plus.
“So Glasgow are in a fortunate position to be able to do that, and they are also playing their next two games at home. So I think there must be a slight advantage leaning more towards them coming off such tough competition.
“For us being refreshed and wanting to improve – it is also a good situation for us.”
Davids said the Kings would be training in Port Elizabeth on Monday and Tuesday morning, before leaving for Glasgow on Tuesday afternoon. “The team [have the day] off on Wednesday, and we have our captain’s run in Glasgow on Thursday before Friday’s game.”
It has been announced that Stuart Hogg will return to the Glasgow squad for their crucial Champions Cup clash against Leinster tomorrow, assistant coach Jason O’Halloran has confirmed.
Hogg, 25, has not played this season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
“Stuart was running around and he was close to being selected against Exeter, so I’m sure he’ll be some part of the [squad of] 23,” said O’Halloran.
“Whether he’s starting or off the bench is yet to be determined.”
The Scotland fullback has not featured since departing from the British and Irish Lions tour with a facial injury in June. He then had an operation to fix a long-standing shoulder problem.
However, the two-time Six Nations Player of the Year is now fully fit and ready to play his part in Glasgow’s potentially make-or-break European showdown against Leinster.
After their defeat away to English champions Exeter Chiefs, Glasgow know another defeat tomorrow will leave their European aspirations in the balance.
“We’re in a position now where we need to win desperately after getting no points out of the first away game,” said O’Halloran.
“We need to put our best team possible out there. The team were under pressure leading into the Munster game after a pretty poor performance against Cardiff. The boys really reacted well to that. We were highly physical that night and that was probably the most accurate performance we’ve had.”