WHEN Glasgow Warriors head for Dublin this weekend, it may not be a full-strength side, but every one of the players out on the field will be desperate to put in a performance for one reason or another according to Lee Jones, the wing who claimed two of the six tries in last weekend’s win in Italy.
Any fringe players selected know this is possibly their only chance to cement spots in the side during the Six Nations; the internationalists know they are being scrutinised with Scotland places on the line.
So it may be a dead rubber in terms of European qualification, but Jones reckons there is too much at stake in personal terms for any of those on duty to take things lightly.
Dave Rennie, the head coach, said immediately after the win in Zebre last Saturday that he planned to rest Finn Russell, Jonny Gray and maybe some others when they return to the European Champions Cup in Dublin this weekend, but Jones reckons competition for places will keep players’ minds on the job over the next two weeks.
“Playing against two quality opponents in Leinster and Exeter, is great prep for guys who are potentially going into Scotland and the Six Nations,” he pointed out.
“They are two teams who are still gunning for it, going hard in Europe. For us that is a big challenge, it is competition and the boys will be right up for it.You still have to play the game that is in front of you but it would be good to go out there and try to put in a performance.
"We are zero from four in Europe so we want to try to put a win on the board. If you look at our squad, the guys who are playing week-in, week-out, there is hard competition for places and no game where guys are going to sit back. It is against quality opposition that guys have a chance to prove themselves.
"There is nothing in terms of qualification to get at the end of it but for guys to go out, make a statement and put their own performance in – that is a big driving factor for everyone in this team.”
One thing is he utterly confident of: if they can secure the ball, tries will come – they have 64 from 17 games so far this season, an impressive 3.75 average per game.
“You still have to play the game that is in front of you but it would be good to go out there and try to put in a perform-ance. We are zero from four in Europe so we want to try to put a win on the board,” said Jones.
“We have threats across the back line and when you have Finn [Russell] at 10, he can create something.
“If we are calling in spaces, he is able to put the ball in there. We are scanning the field looking for opportunities and communicating in where the space is, then we have players who can put the ball there. It is really exciting.”
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