PRICE: I TOOK MY WARRIORS SHIRT FOR GRANTED

ALI PRICE has confessed that last season’s dip in form provided him with some much-needed perspective after he’d become too big for his boots. The Glasgow scrum-half started that campaign as first pick for Scotland in the Six Nations, but his performances nosedived so badly that he ended up watching many of the Warriors’ crucial games from the bench. Now the 25-year-old (below) says his fall from grace has left him appreciating the opportunity to earn the starting shirt for his club all over again. ‘It was a frustrating end I had to last season, the situation I got myself in where I was watching games at the back end of last year,’ said Price. ‘When everything is happening for the first time, it’s very easy. I was quoted as saying I almost thought I had cracked it. Every game was just going to be a breeze — you come off, you’ve scored a try and done this and that and everyone thinks you’re great. ‘In reality, you’re really only as good as your last game. ‘Rugby has a funny way of bringing you back down to earth when you think you’ve made it. I’ve learned a lot from that. ‘I’m never going to be a perfect rugby player, I’m never going to be that guy, but if I can put in consistent performances and every now and again put in a decent showing, then you can’t go too far wrong.’ Sunday’s crucial Heineken Champions Cup clash in Cardiff is another opportunity for Price to put down a marker for both club and country. Especially as a second straight loss would essentially end Glasgow’s chances in Europe after last weekend’s 13-3 defeat at home to Saracens. ‘It’s almost a knockout game for us,’ Price said. ‘If you can’t get up for that, then what can you get up for? ‘If we can go down to Cardiff, match the intensity we brought (against Saracens) and be a bit more clinical when we get into their 22, I think we will come away with a good result. ‘That could put us right back in the competition.’