Weir set for a stand-off in battle to replace the golden boot
Published on 20 Aug 2010


Bert Mitchell
Filling the boots of a sporting legend is a daunting task.

But when those boots once belonged to one Dan Parks – the record Glasgow Warriors and Magners League points scorer – the size of the challenge is put well and truly in perspective.
However, at Firhill tonight, Warriors teenager Duncan Weir will take his first step towards achieving that when he lines up against Sale Sharks.
Making matters even tougher for the 19-year-old is that he is facing a head-to-head battle for the stand-off berth with Ruaridh Jackson, the man who has long been groomed as the heir apparent to King Dan’s throne.
Weir’s more experienced team-mate will be given the first 40 minutes against the Aviva English Premiership side in tonight’s 7.30pm kick-off, but the former Glasgow Hawks star said: “I am just looking at tonight’s game with Sale and the trip to London Wasps as two great opportunities.
“I made my debut against Leinster in the final home game of last season and it will be great to get some more game time tonight against Sale in front of our supporters.
“Everyone knows what Dan Parks achieved here and it is a massive ask for anyone to follow in his footsteps. I think it is a good thing that there are two of us in Ruaridh Jackson and myself, and we are both young players, trying to do just that.
“Things have been building up nicely towards tonight, and their has been a real buzz about our training ground at Scotstoun.
“But with this being the first home friendly of the season, the players are aware it is a great opportunity to lay down a marker for the season ahead, so we are going out to impress.”
Tonight’s match will provide Weir with the chance to pit his wits against one of the biggest names in English rugby – stand-off Charlie Hodgson – and the Glasgow star cannot wait for the head-to-head.
He said: “I don’t know how things will pan out in terms of when I come on, but it would be great to go in against someone of the calibre of Charlie Hodgson. You want to test yourself against the best and Charlie certainly comes into that category.
“The type of quality we are going to be up against tonight and next week at Wasps will definitely provide the ideal preparation for the Magners League opener against Leinster a fortnight tonight at Firhill.”
Weir admits Jackson is the favourite to fill the golden boots of Parks – regarded as the best No.10 in the Northern Hemisphere by Scots legend John Beattie – but revealed that although the competition for the Warriors jersey is fierce, it is friendly.
Duncan said: “Ruaridh and I get along really well and, if he makes the position at 10 his own for the start of the season, then I will be pleased for him. But obviously I am hoping to do everything I can to stake my claim and it is how Sean Lineen sees things which will decide.
“Colin Gregor can also play at No.10 and has done really well there over the last couple of seasons. So, over the course of the campaign, we know how injuries take their toll and everyone is going to get their oppor- tunity”
Season-ticket holders will get three free tickets for tonight’s game.
Meanwhile, Warriors skipper Al Kellock and Chris Cusiter have been ruled out of November’s Autumn Internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa through injury.

This article was posted on 20-Aug-2010, 13:04 by Hugh Barrow.