Ashe at the ready
A first start for Adam as Kellock backs him to be real Warriors stalwart
Glasgow warriors captain al Kellock has watched so many players come and go over his eight years at the club, he struggles to remember all their names. Yet he believes that one young man making his first s t art against Connacht tonight will be impossible to forget.
Up until now, back-row forward adam ashe’s claim to fame was that he made his scotland debut — against south africa back in June — before he had even started a competitive match for glasgow.
He will put t hat r i ght at scotstoun tonight when he takes over from the injured Josh strauss in what promises to be an epic battle between two sides that have won all three of their opening Pro12 fixtures.
ashe may have big shoes to fill but Kellock, who will be playing his first game of the season after shoulder surgery, believes the 21-year- old will go on to have a glittering career for both club and country.
‘People may find it a bit weird that he started a match for his country before he started one for glasgow but it says a lot about him in that he could cope with that,’ said the former scotland skipper.
‘It doesn’t surprise me that he did it as he is an exceptionally talented guy. Mentally, he is getting stronger and physically he is going to get better and better. He is the sort of player who doesn’t take many backward steps.
‘He is a real line-out forward who can pull in balls you would never expect him to get.
‘He is also a great ball carrier in the way Johnnie Beattie is and Richie Vernon was before he switched to playing in the centre.
‘I spoke to him at the team run and I have no doubts about his attitude. we want him to be on the ball as much as possible and I have told him if he makes a mistake to forget it straight away and get back into the game.
‘adam has a great future ahead of him, starting with the match against Connacht, and he can go on to be a great player for the club and also play for scotland some more.’
warriors head coach gregor Townsend said he had no qualms about bringing ashe into a starting XV that shows eight changes to the one that destroyed the Dragons 33-13 down in wales last weekend. another player making his first start is former Connacht back James Downey, who will link up with Mark Bennett in a new-look centre partnership.
‘I am confident the new guys coming in will do well for us in an important match between two unbeaten clubs near the top of the league,’ said Townsend.
‘adam didn’t play much rugby last year for us but he did come off the bench a couple of times and if he hadn’t picked up some injuries, he would have made his first start before this game.
‘This is his first year as a pro and he is now ready to fight it out for the No 8 jersey with Josh strauss and Ryan wilson when he comes back from injury.
‘This is a big chance for adam to show what he can do and I am sure he will do well. The same goes for James Downey, who will be making his competitive debut and knows a bit about the Connacht players after playing for them for a few years, which can help us in our preparation.
‘James will be a vital player for us as he has great experience f rom his time with Munster, Northampton and Connacht. style-wise, he has brought a short passing game to the backs division and we are hoping he can provide quick ball and put his team-mates into space as we try to find a way through the Connacht defence.’
Townsend said he had told his team to expect an energy-sapping, physical match that he predicted could hang in the balance until the end. such is the ability of Connacht to keep up a high-tempo until the final whistle, they have failed to lose a single point in the second half of their last two wins over Edinburgh and leinster.
‘Connacht keeping a clean sheet in the second half for two matches in a row shows just how fit they are and how defensively well organised they are,’ said Townsend.
‘we have to be exactly like they are if the game is still hanging in the balance if we want to keep up our unbeaten run.’
GLASGOW: Hogg; Lamont, Bennett, Downey, van der Merwe; Weir, Pyrgos; Reid, MacArthur, Murray, Swinson, Kellock, Harley, Fusaro, Ashe.
CONNACHT: Leader; Poolman, Henshaw, McSharry, Healy; Carty, Porter; Buckley, Heffernan, Ah You, Swift, Muldowney, Muldoon, McKeon, Naoupu.