The hostile atmosphere at the Principality Stadium won’t faze Adam Hastings because he’s been through it all already.
The 23-year-old is likely to start at stand-off for Scotland against Wales in the Doddie Weir Cup with Finn Russell not eligible because the match falls outside World Rugby’s international window, and he wouldn’t be the first to falter in the Principality cauldron with the roof closed and 70,000 Welshmen screaming at him to make a mistake.
But not only has the son of former Lions captain Gavin witnessed games in Cardiff many times, but he reckons he went through a similar examination in Argentina during the summer when he made his first appearances for Scotland.
“I think I can take a lot of confidence from the game there,” he said of the game in Resistencia which the Scots won handsomely 44-15.
“It was one of my better games on tour, that was a loud South American crowd and a pretty hostile environment, with rain chucking down for most of the second half.
“I’ve been to Cardiff quite a few times, when I was at (Millfield) school I had a lot of Welsh friends and we would go up to games there. It is an amazing atmosphere, and especially when the roof is closed it is bouncing.
“But it’s just noise isn’t it? It shouldn’t affect you too much. The guys always tried to get me to support Wales, but they never managed it!”
Hastings went on tour still pretty raw in professional rugby but this season he’s been the main choice of Dave Rennie for Glasgow at 10, in both European games so far.
“The Saracens game was definitely the most physical game i have played,” he said. “After it i was battered as was everyone but I felt we fronted physically. I took a lot of learning from that game and it was needed.
“Against Cardiff it was a kind of must win game, but that gave me even more confidence. It may have been easy to go into my shell a bit after the first game but we went out there and performed really well.
“I think it’s just a confidence thing. Last season when I was playing I was not getting consistent game time. You maybe try too hard or not enough because you might be scared to make mistakes.
“Now, I’ve been given time in the seat and Dave Rennie has backed me, which I’ve been thankful for. Confidence has had a massive role.”
He still confers with his illustrious Dad, but the generations they played in are totally different, he points out.
“He played during amateur days and the game has changed,” added Adam. “I do talk about my performances with him but it is nothing too in depth. He probably feels he knows what he is talking about!
“But it is nice having my father there as he has been there, done that. There is just so much preparation nowadays you look at teams the week before you play them. The game has changed a bit since his day.”
