IT SAYS something about Glasgow Warriors' strength in depth that when the player who started four of Scotland's matches in the World Cup was having an off-day, they were able to turn to the player who started the other. So off trotted Finn Russell and on came Duncan Weir.
Not only that, after Weir arrived on the field on Sunday, things started to move in Glasgow's favour, and 10 points inside the final few minutes completed the rescue act as they came from behind to defeat Benetton Treviso in a game in poor conditions where nothing seemed to be working.
Weir's reward may come this week when they face Leinster – it certainly has to come soon since Russell obviously needs a rest – and it if it does, Weir can't wait: "It is a huge game," he said. "It is not too long since we played over there, one we let slip from us. It is going to be a key game for our season to do a job on them.
"You want to get the team moving. Last week it was hard to do that, so it was just a case of getting the ball through my hands and letting others play. It was not about being too flash and trying outrageous things, it was about getting others into the game. Whether I am picked this week is up to Gregor Townsend [the head coach], but I just want to play rugby."
Whoever is in the Glasgow No.10 shirt is likely to find himself up against Jonny Sexton, Leinster's Ireland fly-half, and if it is Weir is relishing the prospect. "He is a cracking player, a real talent, so it will take a real 15-man focus to stop him pulling the strings. It goes down to backfield coverage all the way to the flankers getting into his face and trying to disrupt him."
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