GLASGOW WARRIORS forward Pat MacArthur admits that he can’t wait for today’s Guiness Pro 14 Conference A match against Ospreys because he is in the starting line-up, somewhere he has not been as much as he would have liked this season.
“I’m very much looking forward to getting a run out,” the 30 year-old said. “I’ve had a couple of starts, but not as many as previous years and that almost gives you more of an incentive that when you do get a chance, you want to perform.”
Glasgow are currently leading the Pro 14 and with eight matches played this season, they are unbeaten, including a comfortable 31-10 victory over Ospreys at Scotstoun in September.
However, despite his team’s form, MacArthur knows that extending their winning run against the Welsh team at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium this afternoon will be no easy task, particularly as the Scottish side have 14 players missing due to being on international duty meaning that a number of youngsters have been brought into the line-up.
“It’ll be a tough game,” he said. “I have played Ospreys enough times away (from home) to know what I’m going to come up against.
“They are a physical team and a proud team at home as a lot of the Welsh teams are and they will be gunning for us. They may see us as a younger team with lots of changes, but our focus is massive and whoever puts on the jersey must be it proud to wear it and put their all into it.”
However, with Glasgow not having played a competitive match for over three weeks, MacArthur admits that the players are champing at the bit to get back into action and he knows that if they want to continue their impressive run of form, they must ensure there is no hint of complacency. “Without a doubt we want to get going again,” he said. “For a lot for the boys here, we’ve been sitting watching Scotland play and when you are watching your friends play for Scotland, it drives you and gets you excited for a chance, especially after watching the New Zealand game. We are doing well in the league, but we can’t sit back, we must push on.”
The absence of some of the regular starters due to international duty means that a number of the younger members of the squad have an opportunity to make their mark, with Italian internationalist Samuela Vunisa starting at number eight and lock Kiran McDonald playing his first competitive match. MacArthur remembers well being in that position himself and he has some sage advice for his teammates.
“I’d say to them it is just a game of rugby,” he said. “Do what you do well every week and take it onto this stage - just understand things might be a bit faster and you might get hit harder. It is the same game you are playing, so go out there and have fun and don’t overthink it.”
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