Huw Jones set to continue as Warriors full-back

David Skippers

Glasgow Warriors have revealed they will persist with Huw Jones at full-back after the Scotland centre enjoyed his introduction to the position.

With no recognised, experienced number 15 to call on before Glenn Bryce signed a short-term deal last week, Jones lined up in the unfamiliar position in Saturday’s 30-15 defeat by Edinburgh and came through the test without major incident.

The 26-year-old is now set to continue the experiment when Warriors complete their PRO14 season with another game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday.

“He said he really enjoyed it and wants to persist with it. From my end, we do know he has the capabilities and is a world-class 13, but he also ticks lots of boxes for a full-back,” said head coach Danny Wilson.

“He got tested on a few things and there are bits he needs to improve on, like the exit late in the game that needs to go off the field but doesn’t and leaves us a bit exposed.

“But I thought he claimed the majority of high balls. He had one that he probably mistimed. He showed his attacking presence coming into the line and he showed his ability in his kicking game.

“I think it is an exciting one and he is excited about it so I think we should look at it again.”

Wilson will try to find a balance between experimentation and picking a side capable of beating Edinburgh, who have already sealed a home semi-final against Ulster.

“We are aware now that we don’t have another game after this for four weeks,” he said.

“We probably need to think about combinations of players that may well lead into that first league game and players who will be available for us.

“A lot of players will be available for that first block, but then we will lose them for long periods of time.

“We won’t make massive, wholesale, complete changes, but we will make enough that it will be noticeable. We do want to look at a couple of people.

“There’s a combination there, the reality is we want to win a derby, we just lost one on the weekend and no-one likes losing two derbies.”

Friday’s derby will be the first sporting event with spectators in Scotland since the lockdown began, with about 700 Edinburgh fans set to attend in a test event.

“It does make a difference,” Wilson said. “It is strange when you can hear what is being said on the pitch. It almost felt like a pre-season game.

“Having crowds back is going to be massive. It will feel like getting back to normal. The loss of a crowd, home or away, is massive and we are all missing it.

“Stage one was to get a game of rugby out the way at Murrayfield and I think that was a real success.

“I think it is a real positive from our point of view that we are leading the way in getting a crowd in, however big. That’s good news.”

 

Glasgow Warriors