Strauss is looking to make capital gains
SINCE becoming a Scot, life has proved more complicated for Josh Strauss. Not that he is complaining. Ahead of last year’s inter-city derby matches, the Glasgow Warriors star was nine months away from pulling on a Dark Blue jersey for the first time.
Yet, now that he has, the big South African admits to feeling the strain more than he did before ahead of facing Edinburgh in the festive double-header.
For Strauss, the 2016 Six Nations looms large, a tournament that he is desperate to be involved in. The 29-year-old, who became eligible for his adopted country through the three-year residency rule just before the World Cup, knows Vern Cotter will be watching — and that now is the time to impress the Scotland head coach.
‘I certainly feel a bit more pressure compared with other matches I have played against Edinburgh,’ said Strauss, who was Man of the Match for Glasgow in their win over Scarlets in the European Champions Cup last weekend.
‘The competition for a place in the Scotland back row is getting tougher, so I have to be at my best to get in the squad for the Six Nations.
‘Because I was involved with Scotland during the World Cup, this is a different game to other derby matches for me in that I know most of the Edinburgh boys better after playing with them.
‘I have only been here for three seasons and Edinburgh have shown they have great players. This is the best Edinburgh team I will have played against, so I know it is going to be tough to do well.’
His head to head with David Denton — his main rival for the Scotland No8 jersey — won’t happen because of the Edinburgh’s man’s transfer to Bath last month but he still faces a tough challenge from a fellow South African who has his own long-term international aspirations.
‘It would have been great to play against Dave as I like playing against people I know but it is going to be equally tough against Cornell du Preez,’ continued Strauss.
‘I did not play against him when we were both in South African rugby but he has been brilliant for Edinburgh over the past three years and is a very strong ball carrier. He becomes eligible to play for Scotland later this year and is a top player.’
Strauss took over as captain when Jonny Gray had to leave the pitch in the first half against Scarlets after a bad head knock, but was concerned that his side almost threw victory away.
In the end, three penalties from Finn Russell to two from Aled Davies for Scarlets saw his side hold on for a dour 9-6 victory. Although Glasgow defended well, especially when down to 13 men for seven minutes after yellow cards for both Sean Lamont and Simone Favore, he was far from happy. ‘At times we did not make it easy for ourselves against the Scarlets and that has been a recurring theme, which has to be a concern especially going into two of our biggest games of the season against Edinburgh,’ said Strauss. ‘Nobody can work out why we keep making it hard for ourselves but part of it is simply human nature as we all make mistakes.
‘There is also a lack of focus at times and that is something that is creeping into games and also at training sessions. We can’t pinpoint the reason exactly why but that is what feels like is happening if you ask me. ‘In saying that, we won a game in which you have been down to 13 men but we do have heaps to improve on. It may be Christmas but we will work on things ahead of the Edinburgh game to help us get better.
‘For instance, we have to show more consistent form going into the Edinburgh game as they have been playing really well. The away game to London Irish was a bit of a slip up for them but they beat them at home last Friday. ‘Taking Edinburgh on is something we relish and it will be a good competition this weekend as they have a great back row, so we can’t have lapses in concentration.’
Out of the five matches Strauss has played against Edinburgh he has only finished on the losing side once. That was last year at Murrayfield, which saw the capital club lift the 1872 Cup on aggregate for the first time in the three years he had been at Glasgow.
It was a painful moment for Strauss, who admits he wants revenge against them in the fixture two days after Christmas.
‘I missed one derby as my wedding was scheduled for that weekend but I have won all but one which was away to Edinburgh last season,’ said Strauss. ‘That was the first one in a few years that Glasgow lost and afterwards the mood in the dressing room was doom and gloom.
‘It was made worse because on the day we did not play well at all. We were very flat. When you make the mistakes as a team that help the opposition win it is all the worse.
‘When it is not due to the other team being brilliant and you being poor it is hard to take. Much has happened since but we want to rectify our mistakes and get the 1872 Cup back.’