‘Skinny’ Glasgow still have high expectations for Murrayfield trip
With over 20 players isolating and unable to train for ten days, Glasgow Warriors could be forgiven for having a readymade excuse if things go awry for them against Edinburgh on Saturday.
Throw in a lengthy injury list and a couple of concussion issues and it’ snos urprise to hear Danny Wilson describe his squad as“a little bit skinny” in certain positions.
But the Warriors coach remains refreshingly upbeat and knows that the 1872 Cup clash a tB T Murray field offers hiss idea chance to kick-star t their season.
“We have had areas onable week so far ,” reported Wilson. “It is difficult when you come off along period when the players have been stuck in flat sand not been allowed togo out for a run, not allowed togo out to do any weights.
"There was at en-day period when 24 of them or whatever it was could not do anything at all.
“It means you have to slowly bring them back in. It has been graded and gradual which is for the safety of the players coming off the back of a period of not doing anything.
"They had a high speed full session yesterday which was pleasing.”
The first leg of the 1872 Cup was called off after four Glasgow players tested positive for corona virus. This came after 20 members of their squad were forced to selfisolate due to being close contacts of their Champions Cup opponents Exeter, who have had their own Covid outbreak at Sandy Park.
Wilson revealed that another three Glasgow players were judged to have been in close contact and had to iso - late right up until yesterday.
Asked if he has had to temper expect at ions,Wilson replied emphatically. “Because of the Covid stuff? No. We have our injuries and concussions and a Covid situation and we have had to respond to it and we have responded well.
“Things went well ye st erday and the boys trained well and in most positions we have got some really good boys available to us. There are a couple of positions we are a little bit skinny on. This is a derby and everybody is keyed in, and we’ve trained well this week and we go into this game to win.”
The Glasgow casualty list for Saturday includes three of the four unnamed Covid cases –“they were feeling pretty rough ,” said Wilson –and long-term injury victims Adam Hastings, Leone N aka raw a, Alex Allan and Kyle Steyn.Wil son reported that Fraser Brown’ s neck problem is worse than originally thought and the hooker is also ruled out along with wing er Tommy Seymour who is suffering from a long term concussion.
One ray of light is the return of Richie Gray who has been out since being concussed against Ospreys on 24 Octo - ber.
“He has passed everything which is the one goo d news story ,” said Wilson of the lock for ward.
“He should be available this weekend which is great news. Richie is am an of experience and you can see the confidence rising a bit within the group when he’s back on the training field.”