Ali Price believes that Glasgow Warriors having the courage of their convictions will be key to the team finishing off a season which has promised much with something tangible to show for all that effort.
Warriors host the Scarlets tomorrow night needing a bonus-point win to guarantee a home semi-final in the URC play-offs, with one game of the regular campaign left to play.
They will face Scarlets again – in Llanelli this time – at the end of the month in the last four of the Challenge Cup, so tomorrow’s game is not just about league points, it is also of considerable psychological significance.
An interesting subtext will be how much of the Warriors’ game-plan for that second match is revealed during tomorrow’s game. Under head coach Franco Smith, Warriors have developed a reputation for innovation, with backs jumping in the line-out and scrum-haves lining up on the wing just two of the unusual features of recent outings.
Price says there is method to the madness, and reasons that these ploys would not be effective if Smith did not have 100 per cent buy-in from the players.
“A lot of it starts from the 6-2 bench split mentality,” he explained. “You need to have options that can cover most of the back line with being a back down on the bench. It’s good to have flexibility.
“But, also, it shows the skill level [among the squad] as it is how we train. People can intertwine and play in different positions and be just as effective. It means you’ve got a bit more freedom to try different set-plays and the like. And it’s great when they come off as well.”
Price was asked if the innovation of using either Kyle Steyn or Stafford McDowall as a line-out target was the brainchild of Smith or a player- led move.
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I know Richie Gray and Scottie Cummings do a lot of analysis and planning on line-outs and they’re very innovative when it comes to picking apart the opposition so they’ll definitely have a say in some of the line-out moves. But a lot if it comes from Franco, his experience and how he wants to play the game.
“We’re given all the tools and also the confidence to go out there and back ourselves, be brave and try things. What we do on a weekend has been practiced all through the week for that reason. If we’ve spotted something in an opposition we want to target and we’ve got a special play or a set-piece that will pick that apart then it’s on us to back ourselves to go out there and execute it.”
Price has started eight out of the 14 Warriors games he has been involved in this season on the bench but is positive about how the way things are going both personally and collectively.
“It keeps you hungry and on your toes,” he said. “It means that you go out there and you have to be at your best and give it your all as you know that there’s someone equally as capable to do the job if you’re not.
“It can be frustrating at times but at the same time it gets the best out of you and it’s getting the best out of the squad at the moment if you look at our results and how we’re trending.
“Obviously I want to play in every game – any player would, but I feel that I turned a bit of a corner during the Six Nations.
“I was disappointed with the position I found myself in a bit of it was my doing and another bit was others playing well. I had to decide whether to sulk because I was not getting what I want, or to work hard and find my spot again.
“So, I trained hard during the Six Nations and got myself back involved a little bit towards the end of the tournament which I was pleased with, then I came back and played the Munster game and I was happy with the performance and how it went.
“So, that’s where we’re at. George [Horne] is playing well, Jamie [Dobie] is playing well, Sean [Kennedy] is playing well, the team is playing well. We’re part of a winning team at the moment and the mentality is great. It’s on me to take my opportunities as and when I get them and try to find the best of myself.
“I guess it’s what you want as a player, to come to this stage of this year and still, hopefully, have plenty of games still ahead of us. Things are good. The team is in a good place and we’re just looking to continue that on Friday night.”
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