The forthcoming Six Nations will be important for players looking to make an impression, and Gregor Townsend’s Scotland team will be teeming with Warriors when the Lions visit Australia in June.
Andy Farrell’s touring squad is nearly guaranteed to include Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, and Zander Fagerson, but Jack Dempsey may potentially be selected.
After suffering a shoulder injury during Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series loss to South Africa, the Australian-born back-row is getting close to making a comeback.
Although it’s not entirely out, it’s believed that Dempsey won’t play in Friday’s European Champions Cup match against Racing 92 at Scotstoun. Instead, the 30-year-old’s journey to Harlequins in two weeks seems more feasible.
Carolan affirmed, “Jack is a hell of a lot closer than he was before Christmas.” He’s getting a little closer every week. Therefore, we’re hoping he’s training hard this week. Since he’s commencing training together, we’ll know if it’s a week too early for him. I’m glad to see him again.
The treatment room at Scotstoun is becoming less busy than in previous months with long-term absentees Sione Valianu and JP du Preez also closing on returns, while Adam Hastings is making progress and back running.
“Sione and JP du Preez are maybe a couple of weeks away as opposed to days away,” Carolan added. “Again it’s good to have them back with their dates getting closer. They’re valuable assets to the club and they’ll be a welcome return when they do make it back.
“Adam is fit and back training, but it’s just more precautionary. He was wired up in the jaw until a couple of weeks ago. Again it’s a bit of management and building back up his confidence again around contact. It was a horrendous injury and it’s certainly one that we’re not going to rush back.”
The positive injury update is more good news for Franco Smith and there’s been plenty to smile about for the Warriors head coach across recent months.
Key players Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu and Zander Fagerson have all committed their futures to Glasgow despite serious interest from European giants and Carolan believes the Warriors have world-class talent within their squad.
He added: “If you look at the profile of our team, there’s some guys really hitting their straps now like Zander, Sione and Jones, and those guys we think would be really strong contenders for the British & Irish Lions. They’re the best in Europe, if not the world, then we’ve got a cohort of really good young fellas coming through as well – Gregor Brown, Alex Samuel, Max Williamson, Jamie Dobie – which we’re building for the future. Over the last couple of years a few players have moved on like Ryan Wilson, Fraser Brown and now Richie Gray.
“They’ve been replaced. It takes time to blood them in, but I think we’re constantly building. We can’t just accept that we’ve got some really good players – we’ve got to continuously bring young lads through.
That’s part of our mantra, to be able to try and do that and not only improve Glasgow Warriors but safeguard the future of Scottish Rugby as well.”
Expanding on his hopes that various Glasgow players can become Lions, Carolan continued: “If we can continue to build over the course of the season and end the season like we did last year, hopefully – without putting numbers on it – to get as many as possible onto the Lions squad would certainly be something that we would strive for.
“Without any number, but if we get one, two, three, four five, for us it’s trying to get as many as possible onto that. It would show the intent, the ambition of the club for players that wish to come here, but more importantly for the players that are in here – they know that they’ve been well looked after, they’ve been developed and they’re going to get the opportunities that maybe guys won’t get somewhere else, so they know they’re in a good space.”
Glasgow are in an excellent position in their Champions Cup group as they prepare to welcome under-performing French giants Racing to Scotstoun.
A bonus-point win could secure the Warriors’ place in the knockout stages but securing a home tie in the quarter-final remains a massive incentive.
It’s one that we’re relishing,” Carolan said on Racing. “These are the games you play rugby for. While the URC is great and there’s some fantastic opposition, to get the opportunity to play against French and English sides certainly whets the appetite for our staff, our coaches, I’m sure our fans as well.
To welcome a top French team to Scotstoun is always a good day. But it will only be a good day if we can bring the best version of our game on to the field and show them the respect they deserve by putting the best performance in that we can.”
