While everyone in the Welsh capital was admiring the back play of the Glasgow Warriors as they ran in four tries in a 29-12 victory over Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh bagged a bonus-point in their 40-14 home win over three-time champions Toulon.
It means Gregor Townsend’s side should be in peak form when they head south to kick-off the Under Armour Series against Wales on 3 November at Principality Stadium. And one name that should make the ears prick up is that of Adam Hastings, the Glasgow outside half.
With Finn Russell likely to be committed to a Top 14 game with Racing 92 that weekend, the young No 10 with the very famous name looks set to be given the chance to run the game for the Scots. It took him only a minute to get on the scoresheet at the Arms Park last weekend with the Warriors’ first try and he ended with 14 points and the Heineken Man of the Match award.
His Dad, Gavin Hastings, won 63 caps for his country was in the 1989 British & Irish Lions side that won in Australia and captained the 1993 team in New Zealand. His uncle, Scott Hastings, wasn’t a bad player either!
He won 65 Scottish caps and also accompanied his brother on both the 1989 and 1993 Lions tours. Scott won twice in Cardiff against Wales, in 1990 and 1996, and was joined in the side that triumphed 28 years ago by Gavin.
With Adam’s penchant for opening up the game the Scots are likely to come with an attacking philosophy and Welsh fans could be in for a treat to open the four-match Under Armour Series campaign.
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has already highlighted the increase in tries and points being scored in the international game and will be doing all he can to restrict the Scottish, Australian, Tongan and South African attacks next month.
The Under Armour Series launches the 13-match countdown to Japan next year and Edwards can’t wait to have a crack at those four nations in November. His speciality is defence and he knows Wales are going to be up against it.
“There are so many points being scored in international rugby at the moment. The average conceded by each team in the Rugby Championship was 27.5, with the All Blacks the best at 20-21 points,” said Edwards.
“Some teams were up at 33 points average. That proves the game isn’t like it was five or six years ago.
“Particularly in good conditions, which we always have with the roof closed, it is difficult at times to slow the ball up at the ruck. That’s the big thing, and that’s why people who can get in and over the ball are becoming even more valuable.
“Administrators want more tries and most people come to a game to watch attack. It is almost as if defence is a necessary evil, but you have to protect the defensive players as well as the attacking players.
“I don’t care what anyone says, that isn’t being done equal measure at the moment. Sam Warburton is 100 % right, that’s why people who are getting in over the ball are getting injured.
“I’m not telling them what to do, but the number of people getting injured in defence is probably higher than the other way around. That’s because people are allowed to fly off their feet and clean people out with their shoulders at the ruck when players are trying to jackal on the ball.
“Competing for the ball in rugby union, at scrum, line-out and breakdown, an equal contest, is what the game is all about.”
Edwards, who will be leaving the Welsh coaching set-up after next year’s World Cup in Japan to take up a post in 2020 as head coach of Wigan Rugby League Football Club, can’t wait to see Wales back in action in the Under Armour Series. But even after beating two of the Rugby Championship teams in the summer, South Africa and Argentina, he is taking nothing for granted.
“I am looking forward to these autumn internationals because they are all winnable and loseable. That is what you want in a sporting contest. You don’t want to go to a sporting contest and know who is going to win. That brings excitement. You want 50-50 affairs,” he added.
2018 Under Armour Series at Principality Stadium
Saturday, 03 November – WALES V SCOTLAND (14:45)
Saturday, 10 November – WALES V AUSTRALIA (17:20)
Saturday, 17 November – WALES V TONGA (14:30)
Saturday, 24 November – WALES V SOUTH AFRICA (17:20)
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