HENRY PYRGOS, the Glasgow Warriors scrum-half, has identified Gregor Townsend and Finn Russell as key contributors to the team's success this season.
The No.9 believes that the squad as a whole has improved over the course of the past year, but made special mention of Russell, the first-choice stand-off, and Townsend, the head coach, who once played in the same position.
"I watched him growing up and he was an amazing player," said Pyrgos, who is expected to be named today in the Warriors team that play Munster in tomorrow's PRO12 play-off final in Belfast. "As a coach, it's great having someone like that who was a wonderful 10 helping the decision-makers - myself, Finn, Duncy [Duncan Weir] and Pete [Horne].
"The way he tries to get us to play is brilliant: it suits the guys we've got. He's brought in good players from outside Scotland to help us develop and brought through lots of young guys too, who have gone on to play for Scotland. I really feel like every week we are trying to develop as a playing group."
Pyrgos believes that Russell's value to the squad was never more obvious than in last week's semi-final, when he laid on the scoring pass for DTH van der Merwe's vital try in the 16-14 win over Ulster. "Finn's great off the pitch - I really enjoy his company. On the pitch he's brilliant.
"As you saw on the weekend, when the moment came he had the skill and ability to put in a brilliant pass and then had the composure to slot the conversion. He's a young guy, but his game understanding is getting better all the time. He's come on leaps and bounds considering he only really came into the team halfway through last season, firstly at 12, and now he's getting better and better at 10.
"As nines and 10s we just need to get the ball into the hands of the guys around us and let them do their tricks. He's got a big future ahead of him."
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