OLLIE SMITH says he is ready to jump straight back into action with Glasgow Warriors this week after making his Six Nations debut in last Saturday’s win over Italy at Murrayfield.
And the full-back – who had previously been capped twice, against Argentina last summer and Australia in the autumn – is bracing himself for a gruelling run to the end of the season at club level because head coach Franco Smith has told his squad that the target is to reach the finals of both the United Rugby Championship and the European Challenge Cup.
Warriors currently sit fourth in the URC table and if they hold onto that ranking until the end of the regular season then they will secure a home draw in the play-off quarter-finals.
Ideally, they’d like to climb to second which would secure a home draw in the semi-finals as well, if they get that far – although that is a long-shot given that the Stormers currently have 10 more league points with only three regular season games left to play.
With all this in mind, Saturday’s clash against Munster at Thomond Park is of huge significance, because the Irishmen are fifth in the table and only two points behind Warriors.
Munster are in a fine run of form, having scored 180 points in their last four league games, so an entertaining clash is on the cards.
Meanwhile, Glasgow host the Dragons in the round of 16 in the Challenge Cup the following weekend.
“Franco talks about having 10 games left which would mean we would get to both finals of both competitions,” said Smith. “We certainly believe we can achieve that and it’s now in our hands to do it.
“We’ve got a good run of home games, certainly in Europe, and then in the URC play-offs as well, so hopefully we can get some good results.”
On a personal level, Smith knows that a strong end to the season will push his case for a more central role with Scotland as the build-up to this Autumn’s World Cup gathers pace. He admits to being slightly frustrated at not getting any game-time during the first four rounds of the Six Nations but is realistic about the challenge he faces in trying to wrestle the Scotland No.15 jersey off centurion Stuart Hogg (who missed the Italy game through injury).
“Obviously, when you’re in the squad you want to play, but being understudy to Hoggy is no mean feat,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult to try and get him out the squad, so to speak, but whatever is best for the team I’ll happily wait for my chances and hopefully take them when they comes.
“The chat from the coaches is that they back everyone in the squad to put in a good performance whenever they get the opportunity. I believe they have confidence in me, and I assume they trust me given that they put me in for the last game of the championship.
“I can only do so much and perform my role to the best of my ability for the rest of the team and hopefully I did that against Italy. There was maybe limited opportunities in that second half
of that game in terms of attacking rugby but hopefully I’ve done enough.
“World Cups are always a
goal – it’s what you dream about
as a kid – but I’m just going to get stuck back into playing at Glasgow for the next couple of weeks and
see where I am come summertime.”
Smith played a fair bit of rugby as an outside-centre as he came through the ranks but now regards himself as a specialist full-back. However, he has also filled in as a winger for Warriors this season and hopes that this versatility can work in his favour as national head coach Gregor Townsend ponders his squad options for the World Cup.
“It’s all strings to my bow,” he reflected. “You look at a player like Blair Kinghorn who can cover the wings, full-back and 10 as well. I feel comfortable on the wing, while 13 is obviously a bit different, but wherever I get a run for either Scotland or Glasgow I’m happy to play. I’m pretty fluid.”
All 17 Warriors players who were involved in Scotland’s Six Nations campaign checked in at Scotstoun yesterday morning, but it was only a brief planning visit for those who enjoyed significant game-time during the championship such as Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Matt Fagerson, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones and Kyle Steyn. They are expected to be given this weekend off to recharge mentally and physically.
However, the likes of Smith,
Rory Darge and George Horne – who have had minimal or no game time during the last three weeks – will all be in contention for the
trip to Limerick.
