Warriors with heart of Lions
Price and Fagerson can use Tour to get Warriors roaring
DANNY WILSON believes that Ali Price and Zander Fagerson can use the experience of the Lions tour to raise standards and ensure Glasgow are a roaring success this season.
The Welshman was thrown in at the deep end last summer when he had very little time to whip the team into shape after replacing Davie Rennie as head coach during lockdown.
The financial strain caused by the pandemic also meant a recruitment freeze, so he had to negotiate his way through that first season at the club with a threadbare squad.
But with preseason in full swing, he is far more buoyant about Warriors’ prospects for the coming campaign.
Wilson has been given the cash to mount an aggressive recruitment drive which has brought in top players from across the globe, including several internationalists from Scotland, Argentina and Australia.
But he believes the experience Price and Fagerson picked up on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa could be crucial.
He said: “I think both players have gained massive experience through just training, playing and preparing with that type and level of player – and from going up against the opposition they faced.
“I know Ali picked up the Test opportunities and played extremely well and established himself as the best scrum-half on the tour.
“I also think Zander will have gained a huge amount from getting that first opportunity at that level, even though he didn’t quite make the Test team – and we know that tightheads often mature when they are a bit older.
“They are both going to come back with brilliant experiences, loads of learnings, and I’m sure they will pass that on to our boys – and hopefully that will benefit everyone massively.”
Wilson has given both players an extended break and won’t rush them back into the team when they do return, even though he insists they will have key roles.
He said: “It’s very important those guys get some sort of break, otherwise you burn them out.
“They will be back to play for us before they disappear on Scotland duty next.”
Warriors face Newcastle in their first pre-season game next month and Wilson added: “I wasn’t massively optimistic 12 months ago, but we are in much better shape now.
“Our three Argentinian boys playing in the Rugby Championship, the two Lions boys and a couple of guys returning from operations and stuff like that are missing – but we have around 30 in training and it is a good group which is only going to get better.”
They had brilliant experiences which will benefit everyone DANNY WILSON HAS HIGH HOPES FOR HIS LIONS STARS