“Look, they are good people, they come here, they believe in our dream and they believe in what we do here,” said Smith, when asked about the Scotland returnees. “So they know, this is their home away from home. I think this is the eighth time that we’ve handed players to Scotland during the time I have been involved at the club and not once in my time here has anybody , I don’t want to use the word complain, but mentioned any unwillingness to play.
“So, I’m excited about the fact that they know they are valuable, but they also know that they can contribute, even if it’s not with Scotland.
“I’m excited for the players that haven’t had a chance and are fresh,” Smith added. “I’ve just spoken to that group. I tried to plan it in a way that we have as many fresh bodies and eager bodies as possible this week. And there’s even guys like Kyle Rowe who have not played much since he’s been injured, and Stafford hasn’t played really much in the last two weeks.
“At the same time, we’ve got Sione Vailanu back after a long break. Last year he was eight or nine months out and we got him back and he hobbled about. He had to go back and get surgery done again on it at the end of last season. Now he’s gone through the same rehab process again and he’s finally back, and he’s definitely better than he was when he came back last year. You can see he’s more confident on it. All the pain is gone. He had to push through a pain barrier a little bit last year. We all thought through playing and progression it would go away but it just didn’t. This time around there’s no pain and uncomfortableness in it. So, we’re excited to see what he can bring.
“We’ve also got Jamie Bhatti and Murphy Walker, who’s hardly started, back playing. I can go through everybody – you guys [the journalists] will do a better job than me on that – but everybody’s fresh and eager and managed into this last game [before the international break] so that we can maintain the energy and the creativity that I think is needed to be competitive.”
Turning his attention to the two debutants on the bench, Smth said: “Dylan has physically grown a lot and he’s really applied himself. He’s a ‘flock’ like we’ve got here, a flank-lock. But he applies himself really well. He’s a good ball-carrier, a good defender. He adds a lot of weight to the set-piece. So I’m excited for him to make that next step.
“I definitely think he came in at the beginning of the season as somebody that can progress because of the physical attributes that he has. He still has to learn and grow, I suppose, in this environment. But tomorrow will be a good opportunity after getting started on his journey.
“The same with Matty Urwin. Matty is a good footballer. He’s grown. He also worked really hard in the gym to get his weight up to professional rugby standards. He’s got all the potential. I suppose like Jack Oliver [replacement scrum-half tomorrow who made his debut off the bench against Zebre earlier this month], we slowly but surely want to add this experience so when they train and when they prepare, they know what is expected.
“I think Matthew is maturing nicely from a decision-making position. So he understands well what we want to do and we’d like to see if he can progress.
“Fortunately, I was an out-half myself and a first-receiver, so I can anticipate a lot what he sees and understands. I think with [attack coach] Nigel Carolan‘s help here through the last two years that he’s been with us, he’s grown a good skillset. He’s got a good understanding that what’s expected in the application of that.
“I hope we have anticipated it enough for him and that he understands what’s expected and what he should expect. Let’s see. We are all excited about these young guys getting a chance at home in an important game.
“It’s the same way I’ve introduced all the other young boys. Alex Samuel, Gregor Hiddleston and Max Williamson were here a couple of years ago. Now it’s Macenzzie Duncan and Seb Stephen lately. Jare Oguntibeju against Toulon last year. You find the right opportunity and hopefully the boys are prepared well enough to do well in this environment.”
No news seems like good news for Dobie and Dempsey
Smith said he was unable to shed any extra light on the fitness situation of Jamie Dobie, the Glasgow Warriors scrum-half/winger who is currently in the Scotland squad but nursing a swollen knee which precipitated an international call-up for Gus Warr as emergency cover earlier this week.
“I don’t know why they’ve decided that. I think Jamie also plays as a wing. I don’t know if there’s somebody else that needs managing. I know he needs to be managed still, but from our perspective I’m sure that he will be available [for Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Italy on 7th February],” he said.
Meanwhile, No 8 Jack Dempsey was spotted in a moon-boot at the team hotel on Wednesday, but that is understood to be a precautionary measure following a minor training ground injury.
“All of those boys are in the national camp environment and I think they will now make better comments around where and what they are doing. They’ve been out of our environment for a bit. I know of the injury, but again, I don’t know if it’s precautionary,” said Smith.
“I know that he’s got a visit with a specialist today which would give him a little bit more clarity on how it should be managed. From my understanding it’s something that can be managed. I’m not a doctor and currently he’s in the Scotland environment so that would be better for them to comment.”