Adam Hastings: Making his mark
Adam Hastings is relishing the chance to pull on the jersey against perennial opponents Ireland in Scotland’s first pool game of the Rugby World Cup.
The longstanding rivalry has seen the two sides go head-to-head 135 times, however Scotland have only played Ireland once in a Rugby World Cup.
Adam’s father, Gavin, was a key figure in Scotland’s 24-15 victory against Ireland in the 1991 Rugby World Cup – with the full-back contributing 13 points to the scoreboard.
Looking ahead, however, the 22-year-old is eager to make his own mark on the global stage.
Hastings said: “In any international, it is going to be feisty, but there are obviously rivalries there in these games.
“It will be an intense game and there will be a lot of big shots going in, which is what people want to see and it is what you want as a player as well, so I am looking forward to it.”
Although the stand-off has not previously faced Ireland, he has faced experienced Irish figures, including Johnny Sexton, whilst playing for his professional club, Glasgow Warriors.
Hastings continued: “They are a really well-drilled team and they have got a really good set piece and some good half-backs who try to control the game very well.
“They are a big side as well, so we have just to be really brutal around the contact area and try to rumble up their set piece a bit.
“If we can slow down their ball and make life hard for their half-backs, that will bode well for us.”
Scotland open their Rugby World Cup campaign against Ireland (Sunday 22 September, kick-off 8.45am BST), before facing Samoa (Monday 30 September, kick-off 11.15am), Russia (Wednesday 9 October, kick-off 8.15am) and hosts Japan (Sunday 13 October, kick-off 11.45am).