Glasgow quietly confident, says Gray

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

However, his parents have a tough decision to make about turning up.

Gray, the league’s young player of the season award winner, will be helping to lead the charge for Gregor Townsend’s side at the RDS tomorrow evening at 6.15pm, while 45 minutes earlier in Paris older brother Richie Gray is expected to take the field for Castres in the Top 14 final showdown with Toulon.

That presents something of a dilemma for Mr and Mrs Gray, with Jonny telling the Scottish media this week: “Maybe my mum will go one way and my dad the other.”

Glasgow progressed to their first league final thanks to a one-point win over Munster in a raucous and sold-out Scotstoun a fortnight ago, stretching a winning end to the campaign into a ninth straight win. Beating holders Leinster on their own patch at the RDS in their first decider, though, is quite a different matter. With only one win in 18 previous visits, Glasgow are aiming for rarefied air in seeking victory this weekend. They lost last year’s semi-final on the same ground 17-15 and, despite giving Matt O’Connor’s side a rattle there earlier this season, they once again came out the wrong side, this time a six-try thriller, 28-25.

The potential is there and Jonny Gray spoke of quiet confidence in the Glasgow camp. “It is building up slowly. Everyone knows we need to get our preparations right for going out there. It is going to be such a tough game against a world-class side. Everyone is pretty calm and we need to keep that building up until the game,” he said.

As for his big brother and fellow Scotland international Richie, the younger Gray said: “I’m very proud of him. Throughout my career – throughout my life – he has always been there for me. And since he’s made it in rugby I’ve been able to look at him and the work he has put in to get to where he is.

“We speak to each other now and again to see how we’re getting on. We just keep in touch as much as we can,” he added. “It’s great for Richie. Castres have done really well. They were sixth in the league and they managed to beat Clermont away, which is a massive achievement. It could be a great weekend.”