Hastings firmly in first-team frame
DAVE RENNIE has boosted the hopes of youngster Adam Hastings by insisting he will pick his Glasgow Warriors side on form rather than reputation. On Saturday, the 21-year-old fly-half, son of 1990 Grand Slam legend Gavin, impressed alongside 20-year-old flanker Matt Smith, 19-year-old scrum-half Charlie Shiel and back-row Matt Fagerson, also 19, in the narrow 19-14 defeat to Northampton Saints at Bridgehaugh, the home of Stirling County. Hastings was man of the match in his first appearance since his summer move from Bath. As well as converting tries from George Horne and Adam Ashe, he put in a superb cross-kick that left winger Lee Jones in acres of space before he was stopped just short of the tryline. ‘They said: “It’s a trial” before the game, “you are all playing for places”,’ revealed Hastings afterwards. ‘He (Rennie) said as soon as he came in at the start of the week that he is going to pick boys on how they are playing and not reputation, so as a youngster that is good to hear. ‘Obviously, going into that game against Northampton you’re thinking: “If I do something half decent, I might get a shot in the future”.’ Meanwhile, former Scotland loose-head prop Ryan Grant will find out this week whether he has earned a contract at Edinburgh.
GLOUCESTER centre Matt Scott and uncapped Edinburgh prop Murray McCallum have been called into the Scotland training squad that meet today in St Andrews. Scott has been brought in as cover for Edinburgh Rugby centre Phil Burleigh who injured his shoulder in his club’s pre-season friendly against Sale Sharks on Friday at Meggetland. BT Sport Academy graduate McCallum, 21, replaces London Irish prop Gordon Reid, who is out injured.