LION PRICE READY TO ROAR FOR WARRIORS
ALI PRICE insists Glasgow Warriors fans will be seeing a much-improved player when he makes his return to action for the first time since his impressive Lions breakthrough in the summer. The 28-year-old scrum-half made seven appearances for Warren Gatland’s side on the tour of South Africa, including two starts and one substitute appearance in the Tests. Now, after being given an extended summer break, Lions pair Price and Zander Fagerson will reacquaint themselves with club rugby when Warriors host Leinster in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.
Eager to put his Lions lessons into practice for Danny Wilson’s side, Price said: ‘It was a brilliant experience in the summer. I got out of it everything that I could have wanted. ‘I think how I read the game and how to manage and control a match, I took a lot away from being involved in that environment. It’s been a long time since that third Test, so I am excited to get out there. ‘That was great but it’s gone now and I am on to the next job and I want to keep improving. ‘The best way to do that is by being out there playing. It will be good to get out there and have a run around on Friday.’ Price has been back training for several weeks but was happy to heed the advice of a former Scotland scrum-half, Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair, and not rush back into action. ‘You have to be careful and make sure that, mentally more than anything, you have a break after coming off the tour,’ he said.‘I got some good messages from Mike Blair, who went on a Lions tour (in 2009). I mentioned about wanting to come back and he said he was the same but he felt that he rushed himself back. He played after three weeks and he said he needed more time mentally. ‘That stuck with me a bit. I thought I would have the first couple of weeks to get back into things and get my fitness right and settle into the environment again, and you will reach that point where you are ready to go. I think I have done that quite well working with the trainers here.’
ENGLAND suffered a major blow yesterday when Lions pair Luke Cowan-Dickie and Anthony Watson were ruled out of their autumn Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa due to injury.