I’ve been to hell & knack
Warriors to benefit from Ali’s tour education
ALI PRICE reckons he learned “a hell of a lot” playing for the British & Irish Lions in the summer.
Now he wants Glasgow to feel the benefit – starting on Friday, when he makes his comeback after a long summer break against Leinster.
The Warriors scrum-half played in all three Tests against South Africa in July and August. And, after a club season that had begun in August 2020, he needed a break all right.
But he’s been training at Scotstoun for a few weeks now and is sure he is ready to get into the thick of things again.
He said: “I learned a hell of a lot in the summer. And being involved in the three Test matches against the world champs – they’re tough games.
“You have to find different ways of playing, and it’s good to pick other guys’ brains from other nations and hear what they’ve got to say. I just want to pick up where I left off in the summer really, and push on from there.
“You kind of know when you’re ready to come back in. In September when the friendlies were starting and the Premiership was beginning, I’m sat there watching these games at home and I’ve not even started training yet.
“I was ready. I was keen to get back in and get myself up to speed. I felt like I did it right. I had the break I needed, that’s for sure.”
The Warriors have had a good start to the new United Rugby Championship, and sit fourth in the 16-team table after winning three of their four games.
Even the one they lost did not end too badly, as they picked up two bonus points in their defeat by Ulster in Belfast.
But Price knows that playing against Leinster will be their toughest test so far.
He said: “Leinster on Friday: that’s the benchmark for me in this league. They’ve won the last four titles and they’re always a great way of seeing where you are as a team, how you perform against a side like that who will always be competitive, front up and be a challenge.
“You can’t be at 80 per cent and expect to eke out a win. Everyone has to perform. I’m excited to be in the mix and contribute towards that.”
Price will hope to play South Africa again during their Autumn Nations Series but if he is selected he won’t be facing Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe in the Test.
Neither has made a 32-man squad announced by SA Rugby, with scrum-half De Klerk sidelined by a hip injury and star wing Kolbe absent because of a knee problem.