Dunc can give Bulls a kickin’
DANNY WILSON has backed Duncan Weir to kick Glasgow to victory in tonight’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Warriors pride themselves on their running game but know they will have to adapt for a match being played at high altitude, meaning the ball travels further when kicked.
With that in mind, Wilson has opted for the experience of veteran Weir ahead of Ross Thompson at stand-off.
He said: “The field position and territory battle at altitude is huge, so Duncy is part of that process. He’s a very educated kicking 10 but can play the running game when we ask him to.
“We’re not going there to kick the leather off the ball, we’re going there to play, but being at altitude means you need to have a
Warriors coach Wilson insists it’s Weir’s way for crunch clash kicking game whether you like it or not.
“Ross maybe didn’t have his best game against the Stormers last weekend by his own admission.
“But he played pretty well at Newcastle the week before and has played a lot of rugby for us this season and last.
“There was always a point at which we would need to manage the squad and give players opportunities.
“Hopefully Duncy will take the chance he has been given here.”
Wilson has made seven changes in total to the side which lost against the Stormers last weekend.
That defeat left Warriors sixth in the URC table and they could drop to eighth with just one match of the regular season left to play if they don’t get anything out of tonight’s game.
The target is to finish in the top four to secure a home draw in the play-offs but if Glasgow drop out of the top eight they won’t be involved at all in the knock-out section of this league campaign.
“Mathematically it’s not a must-win but the reality is we know it’s a game we need to win away from home to give ourselves the best opportunity of getting a home quarter-final,” said Wilson.
“Obviously, a lot will come down to that last game against Edinburgh as well.
“On top of that, we’re balancing a European knockout quarter-final game away at Lyon next week, so there is a fair bit to manage with the squad.”