Mark Bennett got back on the pitch to give Glasgow Warriors a lift as they seek a European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final place, but he’s not even thinking about the looming RBS 6 Nations Championship.
The 21-year-old returned to action in Sunday’s ERCC match against Montpellier after a nine-week break for a hamstring injury sustained when playing for Scotland against New Zealand in November.
He played just under half an hour but showed enough as the Warriors completed the double over the Top 14 side that he might start next week’s crunch clash with Bath, which could determine which club goes on to the last eight.
Bennett is also likely to be named by Scotland coach Vern Cotter in his RBS 6 Nations squad today, although he’s only likely to get that one start against Bath before Scotland’s opening match against France in Paris on February 7 just four days after his 22nd birthday.
With that in mind, Bennett whose father Stewart played club rugby for Carnoustie HSFP is setting his targets just at his club.
“To be honest, I’ve played just that half hour since the last international match in November so the Six Nations isn’t coming into my thinking right now,” said the young centre. “I just need to get back on the pitch and play, that’s the way I’ve always been.”
Bennett was initially diagnosed to be out for up to 12 weeks so made his comeback nearly a month ahead of schedule, getting half an hour in a Glasgow A squad game against Scotland Under-20s last Tuesday before getting a bench spot against Montpellier.
“To me it feels like it was a long time coming,” he said. “What can I say, I had youth on my side and the healing powers must just have kicked in!
“I’m just delighted to get back in the mix if I could it would have been three weeks earlier than this, but getting back on the park is all that matters.”
He was pleased to play a part in a second win over Montpellier his last game for Glasgow had been the victory in the Stade Yves Manoir in October but the lack of a bonus point was a blow, he conceded.
“It was a good victory, Montpellier have a strong squad and a good side no matter who they pick,” he said. “Silly mistakes cost us getting four tries. We had opportunities and just didn’t execute, and we know we can do better than that.
“I think you could see the disappointment in our faces, it was there for the taking. We squandered a lot of good chances.”
Now it’s down to Bath, against whom Bennett scored a try double in the 37-10 demolition in the first pool meeting of the sides at Scotstoun.
“It’s going to be a huge game, Bath are a great side and by winning in Toulouse they’ve put themselves in a great position as well,” he added.
“It’s all on this week, whoever wins this match can be pretty sure of progressing.”
Glasgow may still need help even if they manage to fashion a win away to the West Country side, who stunned Toulouse away yesterday and picked up a bonus to edge ahead of the Warriors by a point in Pool Four.
Glasgow who have won their last four games against Aviva Premiership opposition – would need to secure a bonus point with four tries scored in Sunday’s match at the Recreation Ground to be certain of their last eight place, while they would be dependent on results elsewhere going their way with just the four points for an outright win.
Only one side champions Toulon – are currently assured their place in the quarter-finals. Both Racing Metro and Northampton Saints in Pool Five are likely to make it, but the other pools have similar winner-takes-all meetings on the six and final round of pool games.
Clermont-Auvergne against Saracens in Pool One and Leinster visiting Wasps in Pool Two are two other decisive clashes.
Meanwhile Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has some intriguing choices to make as he names his 34-strong squad at Murrayfield looking to follow up an encouraging trio of performances in the November tests.
As well as Bennett, Cotter has seen his first-choice players Rob Harley, Adam Ashe and Stuart Hogg fall to injury as well as back-ups like Duncan Weir and Chris Fusaro. He also knows that he will be without his original choice as captain, Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist, for the duration of the tournament, as a result of the broken arm that cruelly cost the Alloa RFC product his place prior to the November tests.
The deficit of back row candidates may see John Barclay make his return to the fold after some impressive appearances for the Scarlets, although the former Dollar and Glasgow back rower was injured in his club’s defeat to Leicester on Friday night.
Edinburgh fans are clamouring for Roddy Grant’s inclusion while former captain Kelly Brown, discarded from Cotter’s November squad, has also been in strong form for Saracens.
However Blair Cowan man of the match in the last test against Tonga – is in possession of the open-side berth and it’s the other two positions in the back row that are realistically up for grabs.