THERE are sports where you can ease your way back into the action on your return from injury; where you can enjoy a gentle run-out and a chance to build up your match fitness. Rugby is not one of those sports, as Adam Ashe knows well.
The 23-year-old is back in the Glasgow Warriors squad for the first time this season after needing surgery on a hip condition, and by his own admission he could not have picked a more demanding return than Monday’s 1872 Cup match against Edinburgh. A 40-minute outing for Ayr against Melrose last weekend has so far been his only competitive rugby since the PRO12 semi-final loss to Connacht at the end of last season, but yesterday he insisted he was ready for what is usually one of the toughest games of the year between two groups of players desperate to stake a claim in the Scotland team for the Six Nations.
“It’s a good one to come back to,” Ashe said. “I’ve been training with the team for three or four weeks now and it’s good to come back into such a big game as this, to go right back into the deep end. If I have to go on after five minutes I’ll just deal with it, get on with it, and I know the body will hold up.
“Last year it was very physical. Everyone ramps up their game, people want to impress because it’s right before the Six Nations, and the majority of players selected for Scotland come from these two teams. Yes, it was physical last year and we’re ready for it again this year.
“It’s a massive game to come back into, but I’ve already got that enjoyment factor back, being excited about being out on the pitch. There’s a lot at stake here, so we all hope we can get the result.”
Ashe has played six times for Scotland since making his debut in 2014, but his priority right now is establishing himself in the Glasgow team. The competition for back-row places is fierce at both Glasgow and Scotland level, and he accepts that only by playing consistently well in the PRO12 and Europe can he hope to make his way into Vern Cotter’s plans in the New Year.
“I just want to get back playing some good rugby here and enjoying it,” he added. “The rest will take care of itself. Hopefully I can get a good block of games here and just get a consistent run at things, but it’s a contact sport and you have to be prepared.
“[Last season] was a difficult season - a few injuries here and there, niggles, and not any consistency of being on the field. And at Glasgow, we’ve got a big squad and you’re not going to play every game, that’s the way it is.
“Injuries made it even more inconsistent,. So it would be nice just to get a real run at it this year. See some good results personally as well as for the team.”
One good result has come about already with the signing of that new contract. The offer showed the faith that Glasgow have in the forward, and it only reinforced Ashe’s own feeling that his future lies at home.
“Just a few weeks ago,” he said when asked when talks about the new deal began. “I was back training with the team but hadn’t played anything.
“As a player you have these thoughts - will they wait until I get back playing? - but I’m happy here at Glasgow. It’s a great club, and the contract I was offered was perfect for me. I was happy to sign it to develop further.”
Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend has rested Tommy Seymour, Ryan Wilson, Gordon Reid and Tim Swinson from the team that beat Racing 92 in the Champions Cup last weekend. “We always look forward to the 1872 Cup matches and Monday’s game will be a special occasion,” Townsend said. “We’re expecting a really tough match and we have been working hard to improve this week and deliver our best performance of the season at BT Murrayfield.”
Junior Bulumakau makes his first start of the season on the right wing in a back division that also sees Henry Pyrgos start instead of Ali Price. In the pack, Alex Allan replaces Reid in the front row, Brian Alainu’uese plays at lock instead of Swinson, and Wilson gives way to Simone Favaro, who missed out on the home game against Racing because of a shoulder injury.
The starting back row of Rob Harley, Favaro and Josh Strauss is an indication of just how tough Ashe will find it to stake a regular place in the squad. But age is on his side, and so is talent. And, while he will not be given an easy ride by Edinburgh, the expected high intensity of the Boxing Day match could actually help accelerate his return.
Glasgow Warriors (v Edinburgh at Murrayfield, Monday, 4.05pm): S Hogg; J Bulumakau, M Bennett, A Dunbar, L Jones; F Russell, H Pyrgos; A Allan, F Brown, Z Fagerson, B Alainu’uese, J Gray, R Harley, S Favaro, J Strauss. Substitutes: P MacArthur, R Grant, S Puafisi, A Ashe, C Fusaro, A Price, N Grigg, S Lamont.
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