Jackson of all trades maturing nicely
0 Glasgow Warriors’ Ruaridh Jackson looks ahead to the Famous Grouse Pre-season Challenge match against Harlequins tomorrow.
went and got a couple of games there, which will have been a big boost for his confidence leading into this season.
“I definitely see myself as a 10/15 so it’s quite good in a way, I offer some options there and it’s nice that I’ve not been completely forgotten and that the first ten years of my career weren’t a complete waste!”
There was something of the prodigal son to Jackson’s return to Scotstoun last season. He has spent two seasons at Wasps, one of which was blighted by injury, and then one at Harlequins, who Glasgow play tomorrow in Perth, before returning north in search of regular rugby.
He got that much and more. Culminating in that startling,
0 Jackson touches down against Canada during Scotland’s tour.
14-point interception on his own goal line against the Cheetahs, Jackson looked infinitely more comfortable at full-back than he ever
did pulling the strings at ten, althoughthatmayhavesomething to do with added maturity and the wisdom that comes with it.
At 30 he may be approaching veteran status but Jackson reminds us that Glasgow remain a very young squad. This is one reason, he suggests, why Dave Rennie has been slow to sign new players.
“In previous seasons, or when there was a bit of a build, there were a lot of changes,” Jackson argues, “but we want to try to keep a really good core squad. It is a really young squad as well. Looking at the forward pack, it is another year of experience that a lot of young guys can gain from. I don’t think it is always the case that we need to add.
“These guys will be a year better for what they’ve been through and it is just about having a few little additions here and there.
“This squad got us to the semi-finals last year. It was a disappointing result, but we feel we will be better and learn from the experience and will be able to push on with another young, exciting squad. I don’t see it [lack of recruitment] being an issue at all.”
The other reason Jackson is relaxed about the relative lack of new faces is that several senior players were sidelined for so long last season that having them back in harness for this campaign will feel like new recruits.
“Alex Dunbar is not a new name but he had a bad year with injuries last season,” says Jackson. “He has been exceptional for us over the past few years and having him back is almost like a new signing.
“Oli Kebble only played a handful of games last season. He’s not necessarily a youngster, but he will be newish to a lot of the Warriors fans and he should be a big boost in the set piece especially. He is a big physical presence out there.
“Brian Alain’uese didn’t play much either. But you’ve got these guys coming back from long-term injuries who can hopefully stake a claim and really help us.”
Glasgow need to add some attitude and some beef to maketheirforwardpackcompetitive against the very best in the league and prevent the sort of one-sided semi-final that they suffered against the Scarlets. But Jackson is confident that the Warriors are headed in the right direction with only the odd tweak needed
“The boys in the pack have been working hard on set piece and driving maul and things like that just add another string to our bow,” he added. “If we do need to go to plan B then we can do that. It is about having that variety.”
And Jackson understands the importance of a plan B more than most.