Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones will add some flair and speed to their backline.
Image: Backpagepix
The Glasgow Warriors are determined to make the most of their home United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Bulls after crashing out of the Champions Cup earlier this season.
Coach Franco Smith’s assistant, Nigel Carolan, says the Warriors must hold their nerve to see off the Bulls in the semi-final at Murrayfield, which kicks off at 3.30 pm on Saturday.
“We've just got to keep our feet on the ground. It's about not getting ahead of ourselves. I think it's very important that we don't play the occasion,” Carolan explained. “It is foreign territory for us to have a home semi-final — when we won the URC [in 2024], we had to do it the hard way. That does keep you on edge.
“Our focus is purely on how to beat the Bulls and the game that we need to put on the field to beat them, rather than getting caught up in the occasion. At the back of your head, you're still thinking we've put ourselves in a really good position in the Champions Cup this year, but it came back to bite us. We've got to make sure that we cash in on this opportunity.”
Carolan said the Warriors have been heavily boosted by the return to fitness of several key personnel, including Scotland centre Huw Jones.
“I said this when we got to the final two years ago — it comes down to two things: momentum and a full deck of players,” Carolan said.
“I think what we’ve built over the last three games is that little bit of momentum. Even our quarter-final against Connacht was a really good opportunity for us to get battle-hardened.
“The second thing is a full deck. We’ve got guys coming back at a crucial time. Scott Cummings was back on the field last week, Jamie Dobie is very close to a return, and Huw Jones is back training again. We got away with not too many injuries out of the Connacht game, so it puts us in a really good position.”
The return of Dobie would be particularly timely, as fellow scrum-half George Horne remains a slight doubt with a hand injury sustained in Friday’s victory over Connacht.
“I’d say if George lost his two arms and one of his legs, he’d still want to play at the weekend,” Carolan smiled.
“George is still fighting. He is a little bit bruised, but we’re going to give him every chance to get back for Saturday. When you’ve got George on the field and Jamie Dobie, they’re two of the best at what they do. To have one or both of them on the field with us will give us the best chance of success.”