Ahead of our friendly against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium, we chatted to Forwards Coach, Roddy Grant, about how the squad is feeling following a win over Exeter Chiefs at Kingspan Stadium last weekend, as well as what he’s expecting this Friday, and beyond into the new season.
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What were your thoughts on the win over Exeter Chiefs at home last week?
It was pleasing. Results don’t really matter in a pre-season game, but it’s always great to get a win against a really good team like Exeter. They’re obviously missing some guys, but then so are we. We had some areas that didn’t go as well as expected, and that can be a bit frustrating, including some easy decision-making, skill areas, and game management, probably more in the second half, after a really good first forty minutes. But it was really good to get thirty guys out playing to get game time against a strong team.
How different a proposition will Glasgow Warriors be?
Pre-season games are quite tricky in a sense in that it’ll be about peaking for next week for our URC opener against Connacht. There are things, by design, that we won’t have done as much of last week, and it’ll be about using this game for the likes of game fitness. We haven’t previewed Glasgow in the same way we would for Connacht. It’s more about what we do, rather than them. We’ll try a couple of different things ahead of the new season – game plans, skills, techniques, and moves in preparation. They’ve a good team, so it’ll be great to have another tough game after Exeter ahead of the start of the season. I’m looking forward to it.
How important is the result in this second pre-season game in terms of going into the new BKT United Rugby Championship?
I’d say it’s more about performance. If you win it carries a bit of feeling and emotion, but I would say it’s more performance. As a team, in general, we’ve proven that if we play how we’ve proven we can play then probably we will win nine times out of ten. Speaking to you now, before the game, I’d say, we want a good performance.
A lot of the forwards were involved in International duty this summer. How does this change pre-season?
It doesn’t change it much to be honest. It allows more guys to get time in the saddle, other guys to lead more, and younger guys, like Harry Sheridan, to train more, as well as the wider Academy guys. The ripple effect is massive. If you take the locks who were with Ireland, this pre-season it has allowed other guys like Frank Bradshaw Ryan, who has just signed with us, to come in, as well as Joe Hopes, and they then get a shot at training when those guys are away. This time of the year, it’s a great thing that we’ve had so many guys away on International duty, especially given the guys were able to get a win on the New Zealand tour.
