BILLY IDOL
Fagerson is sure to relish his chance in toe-to-toe battle with Vunipola
Fagerson ready to meet his idol Billy
GLASGOW WARRIORS No8 Matt Fagerson grew up marvelling at the skills of Billy Vunipola for England. He still has huge respect for one of his rugby heroes but the only thing on his mind today is getting the better of him in the Heineken Champions Cup opener against Saracens.
As a Scotland age-grade player, he watched the giant backrower play for his country and dreamed of taking him on one day. Now he will get his big chance at a sold-out Scotstoun when the pair go head-to-head.
It is a perfect opportunity for the Scot, who is nearly six years younger than Vunipola, to gauge how good he has become two months into only his second season as a professional rugby player.
‘I am only 20 and grew up watching Six Nations rugby, so I’ve seen Billy quite a bit playing for England,’ said Fagerson. ‘It’s been pretty cool watching all the international guys on television, so to play against one of them will be awesome.
‘Billy is probably the best backrow I’ll have ever played against when I face him. I played against Sam Simmonds of Exeter last season and his footwork lit up the park, but he got exploited a couple of times up here at Scotstoun, so hopefully we’re able to do the same to Billy.’
Vunipola, the wrecking ball of the English Premiership outfit, is a mountain of a man standing 6ft 3in tall and weighs in at 20st 2lbs.
Fagerson is only an inch smaller in but, at 16st, much lighter and will be facing a tough task to stop him once he builds up a head of steam.
Stop him he must, as a rampaging Vunipola has destroyed many a side because of the hard yards he makes.
‘It’s difficult for players to be the perfect package, but Billy does get pretty close,’ added Fagerson. ‘He’s quite a good ball carrier and he can smack boys in defence.
‘I’ve analysed his game a lot and (head coach) Dave Rennie has spoken to me a lot about my footwork and how I have to get that spot on when I face him.
‘I’m not Billy Vunipola size, so I can’t run straight over boys all the time, but late movement — late footwork — is one of the areas I feel I’m pretty good at, getting on to soft shoulders. ‘I think that will be key this weekend, because if you run straight into boys like Maro Itoje, Will Skelton and Billy, you’re probably not going to come off best. ‘I’ve had a look at Billy and the Saracens back row, and there are ways to exploit them. Hopefully we can do that on Sunday.’ Fagerson, who won his only Scotland cap to date in the defeat to the USA in the summer, has the hardtackling pair of Callum Gibbins and Ryan Wilson on either flank to help.
Winning the back-row battle is one of the keys to a Glasgow victory, while in the backs it is vital that flyhalf Adam Hastings pulls the strings better than his opposite number Owen Farrell.
An opening-day home victory would set Glasgow off on the right track with a match against Cardiff Blues in Europe away next Sunday followed by home and away games against Lyon just before Christmas.
It is an eminently winnable group provided the English outfit — that includes Scotland winger Sean Maitland in their starting line-up — are beaten first up.
Warriors head coach Rennie is confident his side have learned lessons from last year’s dismal European campaign when they finished bottom of Pool Three after just one win from six matches.
He has no qualms about picking Fagerson for such a big match even when he had the likes of the more experienced Adam Ashe to call on.
‘He’s got a real point of difference has Matt, as he’s got great feet,’ said Rennie. ‘We’ve got Ryan Wilson in there as well, so if we’re using fiveman line-outs, Matt is very good when we’ve got bigger numbers in.
‘He’s played very well and the decision is made on form.’