Adam Hastings will keep running from deep and off-loading behind his back even though he’s still finding his feet in the Glasgow Warriors set-up.
The son of former Scotland and Lions captain Gavin has caught the eye with his distribution in his two Warriors games so far, leading one attack out of his own 22 against the Southern Kings last Friday that resulted in a try at the other end.
However that was the winless Kings and Leinster on a Friday night at Scotstoun are another matter altogether aren’t they? Maybe not…
“We are not looking to play from our 22 all of the time but if it is on we will do it,” said Hastings. “We are not scared to do it and have been given the go-ahead.
“Dave (Rennie) encourages it. If it is on anywhere on the pitch he tells you to have a crack. You just have to pick your moments, we fortunately picked the quite well last weekend, so happy days.”
Hastings could therefore be the perfect back-up for Finn Russell, given that he sees running the ball as his natural game – although he’s conscious not to overdo it.
“My natural instinct is to run but I know if it goes wrong you can be in a lot of trouble,” he said. “In the professional game if you cough it up that close to you line you will cough up the points as well. As I said it is just picking the right moments.”
Hastings has struck up a strong partnership at half-back with George Horne, the pair combining well last week with the former Howe of Fife and Strathallan School scrum-half picking up man of the match award. But the pair never played together coming up through the age ranks.
“We always just missed each other, I think,” said Hastings, who is a year younger. “It’s nice we just sort of clicked straight away in the summer.
“We are kind of in the same boat, we have not had too much professional experience. Obviously George has a bit more than me and been away with the sevens but it is nice having someone in the same boat as you.
“As half-backs we can rely on each other, we can talk and we get on pretty well so it is good. George prefers to run the ball instead of kicking as do I so that is nice.”
The pair seem set to play again against Leinster tomorrow with the internationals away in Autumn Test camp, and Hastings has been champing at the bit for game time since he suffered a leg cut in his debut against Connacht and missed a few weeks.
“Last week it was great to get my home debut, it had been a long time coming so I was itching to play,” he continued.
“But it is definitely a step up in attack and defence. They are a quality side and have proved it for years.
“They are a big physical team and they like to try and bully teams. They were successful in parts doing that against us in the European game so we are expecting more of the same.
“It’s definitely something that’s on our minds; I wouldn’t say it’s bugging us but we want to right some wrongs this weekend.”
And a prolonged run in action is what he’s most looking forward to.
“When I was at Bath and when I was not on loan to another team I maybe wouldn’t play for a couple of months then find myself in the thick of it,” he said.
“It is quite difficult and a bit rusty and if you are not playing you are put on loan quite regularly. When you get constant game time you do get more into it and relaxed and it is much easier.”