Rory Darge (ankle), Scott Cummings (foot) and Oli Kebble (shoulder) have all returned to training with the Warriors in the past few days and Smith is targeting Glasgow’s encounter with Ulster on February 17 as a potential date for them to return to action. If that does happen there is a possibility that any or all could figure in the later stages of Scotland’s Six Nations programme.
Ali Price’s presence for Glasgow Warriors offers Calcutta Cup cluesScotland’s pro-team coaches are at the mercy of their international paymasters at this stage of the season, but Glasgow Warriors have been given a timely boost before their clash with the Dragons in Newport this afternoon as six players have been released from the Scotland Six Nations squad to take part. The most prominent is Ali Price, who was first-choice scrum half for the British & Irish Lions 18 months ago. Price also started all four of Scotland’s autumn internationals last year, but has lately been behind George Horne in the Glasgow pecking order. It would be unwise to read too much into Price being available to Glasgow the week before the Calcutta Cup. While it may indeed mean that Gregor Townsend has no plans to use him against England, it could also imply that the national coach wants him to get more game time under his belt after sitting on the bench on so many recent occasions.
While Glasgow’s 19-19 draw with Bath last weekend was a disappointing performance and result by the Scotstoun side, it did maintain an unbeaten run of eight games stretching back to November. As that period is usually considered one of the most testing of the season, negotiating it without a single defeat is a hugely impressive achievement. Yet Smith is still not satisfied. “We have made some huge strides, ” the South African admitted. “But the reason I keep mentioning that we need to improve and get better is because there are still a lot of things that have to be put in place. “We are definitely not the complete product and we want to make a step forward this week in that regard.