Rising star Hastings could steal Farrell’s thunder

A FLY-HALF performing to an exceptional level has become a familiar sight when watching Saracens play in recent years — and there is no reason why today should be any different.

But, rather than Owen Farrell running the show, it could be Adam Hastings who finds himself the toast of Scotstoun come teatime tonight.

During my time at Clermont, we went to Saracens and won 24-14 in the Heineken Cup. That was in January 2011, in the days when Sarries played at Vicarage Road.

Despite the result, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the young lad they had playing at No 10.

It was Farrell. He was only 19 then, but he showed a skillset and maturity that belied his tender years.

I see the same when I look at Hastings. He turned 22 last weekend, so he’s slightly further down the road than Farrell was at that time, but he has the same raw talent.

You can guarantee that Farrell and a few of the heavyweights in the Sarries pack — Maro Itoje, Will Skelton, Jamie George and the Vunipola brothers, Billy and Mako — will be running down Hastings’ channel.

They will look to target him and rough him up with the odd late tackle if they can get away with it. But there’s no guarantee they will be successful in doing so.

Hastings (below) has been outstanding for Glasgow in the Pro14 this season — performing above and beyond expectations. Today’s game is clearly a massive step up in terms of quality, but there’s nothing to suggest he won’t take it in his stride.

That has been the trend of this breakthrough season for him, where he has become first choice following the departure of Finn Russell.

Hastings’ displays have been top quality and, before too long, he will become a genuine rival to Russell for the Scotland jersey.

That’s now the scale of the opportunity the young Warrior has. If he can demonstrate to Gregor Townsend that he can produce the goods against class opposition, then Hastings v Russell will become a genuine conversation in the autumn Tests. Russell has made a flying start at Racing 92, scoring tries and creating plenty more for the Parisian club. He just retains the edge in terms of his overall experience with Scotland, but Hastings is rapidly emerging as a genuine rival. Glasgow have history with Sarries. In the quarter-final tie at Allianz Park in 2017, the game was really tight, until the English side stretched their legs in the final 20 minutes en route to winning the tournament. It’s not quite a must-win for Glasgow, but it’s not far off it. If you lose your opening game at home, then you suddenly find yourself under huge pressure in the second game, which is away to Cardiff Blues next weekend. Glasgow should fancy themselves in that one. They beat Cardiff home and away in the league last season, while Lyon, the other team in the pool, will be hit or miss. It’s all there for Warriors, nowhere near as tough a group as they’ve had in recent years — but today is the acid test. Saracens are second favourites to win the competition, just behind Leinster. Those two are the benchmark at the moment. So Glasgow have a huge chance to make a statement and announce themselves as genuine contenders if they can beat Sarries.

Whether or not it’s Glasgow who go all the way, it would be refreshing to see a new team lift the trophy because, since 2011, only three teams have won the European Cup — Leinster, Toulon and Saracens.

There is also an intriguing subplot in the forwards. Jonny Gray is far too polite to admit it but, privately, he will want to get the better of Maro Itoje and George Kruis — two players who pipped him for a place on the Lions tour to New Zealand last year.

The battle up front will be key and this is where Glasgow must improve from last season. They can’t just throw the ball wide and cut teams open as they do in the Pro14.

European rugby requires a different skillset. There will be times when you either kick for territory or look after the ball on the ground, then build the phases with a bit of grunt and physicality.

Sarries have won their opening six games in the English Premiership, with five of them being bonus-point victories. So they’ll be a tough nut to crack.

But, in Hastings, Glasgow have the perfect man for the job. If he’s at his swashbuckling best, Warriors have every chance of a famous victory.