World Cup duo in frame for Warriors return but Scotland contingent won’t be rushed back
Two non-scottish World Cup stars in DTH van der Merwe and Niko Matawalu could return to action for Glasgow Warriors when they take on the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Newport this weekend, but the team’s Scottish international contingent will be wrapped in cotton wool for at least one more week.
Stand-off Adam Hastings, pictured inset, was one World Cup squad member who took part in training at Scotstoun yesterday having had limited game time in Japan, but assistant coach John Dalziel said there is no need to rush the playmaker – or anyone else for the matter – back into action at club level.
“There won’t be any Scottish players this weekend. It will be staged, so some of them who have played less will start to drip in next week or the week after, while the longer minutes guys will be the third group to come back,” he explained. “We’ve obviously got the nonscottish lads back in this week and I think we’ll try to be sensible with them as well,” he added. “They’ve had a long lead-up to the World Cup and guys like DTH have had a lot of minutes, but a decision could be made for him and Niko to come into the frame.”
Dalziel went on to explain that regardless of SRU protocols to ensure Scotland internationalists are given time to rest and recuperate, there is no real need to rush the likes of Jonny Gray, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson and Sam Johnson back given how pleased the coaching team are with the players who have stepped up in their place this last month. Glasgow lost their first two matches of the 2019-20 Pro14 season, away to the Cheetahs and at home to the Scarlets, but then picked up a solid win over Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun last weekend.
“We’ve got 17 missing – the most of any team – but we have really backed the youngsters and they’ve been fantastic,” he said.
“For example, Kiran Mcdonald has had a real opportunity and has been on fire, and Adam Nicol has had an opportunity as well.
“With everybody back, there is 53 players [in the squad], so it is not that these guys are not good enough, it is that we’ve got a lot of world-class players.”
There has been widespread speculation this week that Warriors head coach Dave Rennie had been lined up to take on the Australia job when his contract runs out at the end of this season, but Dalziel insisted that this was being treated as little more than tittle-tattle by the squad as they focus on the Dragons game.
“There is a lot of articles, a lot of speculation and a lot of theories, but Dave is committed to Glasgow until at least the end of the season,” said Dalziel.
“There is never a thought of that changing. He is a man of real good stature and he’s working harder than ever to make sure Glasgow have a fantastic season this year and beyond.”