Fit-again Warrior Hastings up for a battle
GlaSGoW Warriors have been given a major boost with the return of star fly-half adam hastings for tonight’s Guinness Pro14 clash with Ulster at Scotstoun.
hastings has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury in Scotland’s Six Nations win over Wales in llanelli on october 31 last year.
it was initially feared that, after undergoing surgery, the damage was significant enough that hastings could miss the entire 2021 Six Nations championship.
Scotland head coach Gregor townsend had indicated the initial prognosis was that the 24-year-old, who will join Gloucester in the summer, was facing up to four months on the sidelines.
But hastings has returned ahead of schedule and goes straight into the Warriors’ starting XV for tonight’s game.
he won’t be the only player townsend will be keeping a close eye on this evening, with richie Gray, oli Kebble, Sam Johnson and huw Jones also starting for Glasgow after being drafted in from the Scotland squad.
Chris harris, who has been excellent in the Scottish midfield in the opening two games of this year’s Six Nations, starts for Gloucester in their Premiership clash with Bath tonight, as does Wales’ wing sensation louis rees-Zammit.
toby Faletau starts for Bath, and Wales head coach Wayne Pivac will be praying he comes through unscathed, given their injury problems in the back row and the fact they are now chasing a Grand Slam.
it’s a similar story for several other English-based players in the Welsh camp. Northampton fly-half Dan Biggar, Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy, Exeter prop tom Francis and Wasps lock Will rowlands could also feature for their clubs this weekend.
For Glasgow, though, it will be a case of trying to build on last month’s 23-22 victory over Edinburgh when they host an Ulster side who have lost only once all season and sit second in Conference a.
Paying tribute to hastings’ powers of recovery, Glasgow attack coach Jonny Bell said: ‘We are delighted to have him back, he’s looking great.
‘adam is excited and motivated to get back to playing for Glasgow but also then to push back into the Scotland squad.
‘he’s a highly motivated guy and he’s been training well over the last couple of weeks and he’s ready to go. We are excited for him. You have a timescale in mind but, as with every injury, you just don’t know how long it’s going to be.
‘he must be a very quick healer. he has worked hard and has applied himself and he has been desperate to play. he is motivated.
‘the medics have looked after him very well and he has gone through all the processes. With a shoulder injury, it’s about the contact aspect, so he has been filtered back in and he’s ready to go now.’
Pressed on whether hastings might be able to force his way back into the Scotland squad in time for next weekend’s trip to Paris, Bell added: ‘You’re asking the wrong man. You’d have to ask Gregor townsend.
‘Everyone realises what a player he is, so i’m sure everyone in the Scottish side will be looking forward to having him available again. Whether one game back is enough, i don’t know. he obviously he has stiff competition there. it’s not just a case of adam being fit. he’s got to push his way in there as well through getting some game time.’
asked what he thought of hastings’ bold new blonde haircut, Bell replied: ‘how can i answer that? i’ve got ginger hair!
‘i think it’s a phase that maybe we all go through in our lives. i did it myself a few years ago — well, about 25 years ago, to be honest.
‘i don’t think it will affect his performance. it will make him stand out a bit more.’
leone Nakarawa, who will join Ulster next season, makes his first start for Glasgow in a year and will partner Gray in the second row in what is a fairly strong Warriors line-up overall.
Captain ryan Wilson, rob harley and tom Gordon make up the back row, with young Jamie Dobie partnering hastings in the half-backs.
rufus Mclean continues on the wing, with Johnson in the midfield as he pushes for a Scotland recall and Jones once again operating at full-back.
Bell added: ‘We want to give a better account of ourselves than we did over in Belfast (a 40-15 defeat). they are a top-class side and they’ve been going very well.
‘like all the irish provinces, they are big and powerful, big momentum-based sides, so we are going to have to be very good on both sides of the ball. it’s exciting for us to kick off this next phase of games against one of the best sides in the league.’
Meanwhile, Glasgow confirmed the signing yesterday of highlyrated full-back Josh McKay, who won the World Under-20s Championship with New Zealand in 2017.
Viewed as one of the most dynamic attacking runners in Super rugby, McKay will join Warriors later this year following his commitments with Crusaders and Canterbury. Bell added: ‘Josh is an outstanding player.
‘he’s young, he’s evasive, he’s skilful — to me, he’s a typical New Zealand back-three player.
‘his skill levels are high and his game awareness is good. his fundamental skills are top class — and he’s pacy.
‘We’re very excited to get him and looking forward to getting him into a Warriors shirt.’