Warrior Ashe eager to impress Townsend

MAKING his first start for Glasgow Warriors in three months couldn’t come at a better time for Adam Ashe or Scotland.

With Ryan Wilson struggling to be fit in time for the Six Nations, there is a lack of specialist No8s for Gregor Townsend to pick from.

A top-quality performance against Leinster in the European Champions Cup in Dublin today will put him in the frame for, at the very least, making the tournament training squad that Townsend announces on Tuesday.

It could even lead to his first Scotland cap since way back in 2015 when he played in a World Cup warm-up match against Italy.

That would kick-start a promising international career that has been marred by a series of injuries over the past two years. The latest was an ankle ligament problem that has kept him out since October.

Ashe (right) has been so far out of the loop in terms of the international scene of late he confesses he had no idea that Scotland’s Six Nations squad was even being announced on Tuesday. On hearing it is, the back-row forward admits to being excited and looking forward to giving Townsend a welcome selection headache by playing well against the Irish outfit. ‘It would be good to go if I am picked,’ said Ashe, who has been in Scotland squads since 2015 but has never made the team. ‘To be honest, though, I never actually knew the Scotland squad was getting announced on Tuesday.

‘I am back training fully with Glasgow and played 60 minutes off the bench against Zebre last weekend.

‘So here’s hoping I get some good game time against Leinster in my first start since my injury.

‘From then on, we will see what happens.’

The six-times capped Ashe is part of a second-string Warriors team that travels to Dublin knowing their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the tournament are long gone.

Finn Russell is the biggest miss with a shoulder injury, while Alex Dunbar (ankle), Stuart Hogg (hip and foot) and Tommy Seymour (toe injury) are also missing. Second-row Jonny Gray is rested to keep him fresh for the Six Nations.

Ashe, 24, finds himself one of the more experienced players in the side, especially in the back row. He has 19-year-old Matt Fagerson on one flank and 21-year-old Matt Smith on the other.

‘I told them I’m like the old wise man in here and I’m only 24 years old,’ said Ashe. ‘I am going to be out there pushing the young fellas on.’