Ollie Smith is a lifelong Glasgow fan who was in the Belfast stands the night they won the Pro12 title in 2015. There is a special thrill for him now to be playing with and against those he used to pay to watch, and in those same Scotstoun supporters having voted him their McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month for February.
Smith has had a great run at full back since the start of the year, taking full advantage of the absence of Josh McKay, who sustained an ankle injury, and performing consistently well enough to be called up to the Scotland squad for the Six Nations match against France.
An ankle injury suffered away to Scarlets the following week has put a temporary spanner in the works, but the good news is that Smith will not be out for long.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be and no surgery is required,” he told The Times. “I tore one of the ligaments in a tackle but, all being well, I’m looking at Zebre [on April 1] or the Challenge Cup game [two weeks later] to come back.
“When I got injured at the back end of last season in the Rainbow Cup it was a bit disheartening because I’d not made enough of a name for myself in the team. I knew I’d be struggling to get back in the side, which is how it proved. This time, hopefully when I’m back fit and in the best condition to get back in the team, I will do. But obviously that’s not for me to decide.”
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Smith’s progress at Glasgow has been a slower burn than that of his flatmate Rufus McLean or former Scotland age-grade colleagues like Rory Darge and Ross Thompson. But he has worked hard to earn his opportunities, not least by undertaking a strength and conditioning programme that has left him “stronger but leaner” and much more confident in his ability to beat opponents using his physique as well as the dancing feet which have been a trademark since the days he was winning the Schools Cup with Strathallan.
“At the turn of the year, I said to myself I was putting on weight and getting heavier, but didn’t feel like it was good weight,” he said. “I needed to change something to get back in the team. Summer is coming up as well, so it won’t hurt for that either!
“When I was at school, the last thing I wanted to do was stick my head down and carry straight at someone but now I enjoy it. It’s something I can definitely add to my game, like with my kicking game. If there is no option on to counterattack, I can be fully confident in myself to stick the head down and beat a couple of guys to get us front-foot ball.”
Smith loved the Scotland experience, not least his first exposure to two of his heroes, Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell. He has also noted with interest that Gregor Townsend has been more than ready to reward young players for consistently outstanding club form.
“I was in camp for the whole France week and did the warm-up for the game itself. I went in again after the Scarlets game, before I knew what was happening with the ankle, but obviously then I couldn’t train.
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“The France week was pretty cool. I knew a lot of the boys from Glasgow going in, but it was great to get to know some of the Edinburgh boys and guys I watched as a kid. Meeting Finn Russell for the first time was pretty cool. All those facilities, the kit, the food; they make it so easy for you.
“Training with Hoggy was really cool; it’s another level. And when we were running against the [starting] team, looking at Finn, you just don’t get any pictures from him about what he’s going to do, especially when you’re in the backfield. You don’t know if he’ll kick, throw a miss-pass or throw an inside ball, and all that experience that takes my game on as well. It’s good that Gregor is backing you and is willing to give you a shot if he thinks you deserve it. Hopefully I’ll get back, keep my form going and you never know what can happen from there.” Especially with a summer tour to Argentina from which Hogg, after a busy season, may well be excused.
Smith has already proved a willingness to put his head in where it hurts. The try he scored against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship on February 19 was not one for the faint hearted. “I hit my head off the other guy’s [Benetton defender’s] head then put the ball down and it bounced and hit me on the nose. I couldn’t see anything,” he explained. “Because the ball was wet, it skidded off the ground and hit me on the nose. Walking back my eyes were still watering.”
As his season is proving, it is all about taking chances whenever and however they come.
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