116116116 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 115 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 115 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 115 2019PRO RUGBY
116 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 111 2018THE PEN
GLASGOW
RUGBY
@thepenGW
FAN-ZONE BLOG
ow do you
preview a season
like the one
almost upon us? It’s Rugby
World Cup year, there is
going to be around 15 to
20 players who won’t be
with the squad and we
still don’t know all the
signings that Dave Rennie
has made for the season
ahead. So how do you
write a preview taking all
that into account? Well,
here goes...
No matter if it’s Rugby
World Cup year or a
normal season, then
Glasgow have to be
looking to win the PRO14.
That has to be the goal
for the season and Rennie
himself will no doubt be
seeking the title that got
away last season.
Glasgow are well used
to losing significant
player numbers duringinternational windows so
there will be no shock
to the system that some
sides may potentially
face. Rennie has given
numerous youngsters and
fringe players game time
over his tenure and now
is the time to reap the
benefit of that blooding
programme. Guys who’ve
have tasters here and
there of the PRO14 will
now be expected to
step up to the plate and
perform on a weekly
basis.
And that is why some
players now become
even more crucial to the
side. Callum Gibbins, as
co-captain and one of the
more experienced pros,
needs to lead the line and
use all of his guile and
craft. Chris Fusaro, while
not able to play, will be
an important mentor forthe young members of the
squad. Jackson, Thomson,
Kebble and the like will be
the go to men for Rennie
and he’ll expect them all
to be on the top of their
game.
With the Conferences
having been mixed up
this season and Leinster
now in beside Glasgow
and a rejuvenated Ulster
with Dan McFarland at the
helm, it will be incredibly
tough for the Warriors to
finish top of the pile and
book that home semi-final
and bye week.
A tough trip to
Bloemfontein first up will
be a major test of the
squad in the altitude but
with two home games
to follow that against
Scarlets and Cardiff, then
a trip to the Dragons, a
home game against the
Kings then a trip to Parmato play Zebre, there’s
no reason why they
couldn’t be sitting with a
fairly decent points total
after six games and the
significant tests that await
in Leinster and the 1872
double-header.
And the rest of the
season? We have to hope
that players return from
the Rugby World Cup fit
and healthy, ready to hit
the ground running and
then it will be interesting
to see if any other players
come in to the side and if
so what positions they will
take up.
It will not be an easy
season by any stretch of
the imagination but that
is no reason to believe
we cannot be challenging
for the title. A good start,
players in form and a
wee bit of luck will all be
required.H
EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNERS
VITAL TO GLASGOW
116 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019PRO RUGBY