Andy Robinson ”planted the seed” that got Rory Lamont away from his nightmare in Toulon and back to Glasgow to force his way into the Scotland side.
Few people would be delighted to swap the 22C heat of the French Riviera to the freezing snow of Glasgow but the Perth-born full-back believes he’s fallen on his feet by returning to the Warriors.
Now he plans to use his return to the club that gave him his first chance as a professional player to win back his Scotland shirt, and the move comes not before time as he has not played since the match against Georgia in the Rugby World Cup.
”I’ve been a professional trainer,” he said. ”It hurt me only getting one game at the World Cup and when I came back I wasn’t even close to selection at Toulon.
”Bernard Laporte had come in as coach and he never even saw me play, and when I spoke to Andy about the situation he stressed on me the importance of getting game time, which really planted the seed of me going and asking for my release.
”I wanted to play in the 6 Nations and if I’d stayed at Toulon that was a definite no. So I said to them ‘you’re paying me but not selecting me so it’s better we part company’ and eventually they agreed.”
Toulon suggested that Lamont was a loner and did not mix with the squad an accusation he totally rejects.
”I wouldn’t mind playing against France in the 6 Nations now!” he joked. ”I felt aggrieved that I wasn’t given a chance but what they said was totally untrue I loved playing there and my team-mates.
”I don’t know why they felt the need to say that maybe something was lost in translation. But I’m just happy to land on my feet here, as I’d always hoped I would come back to Glasgow some day.”
Lamont turned down options in England, while Toulon stipulated as part of his release that he could not join another French club.
He could go straight into the squad to face Montpellier at Firhill in the Heineken Cup on Sunday, but he’s already aware of a different attitude to the Warriors from when he left five years ago.
He continued: ”I know the people, coaches and players and people who had been here since I left have said how much it’s improved, so I thought it was the perfect place and I’d always hoped I come back at some point.
”I’d heard a bit about what was happening on the grapevine from Al Kellock and (brother) Sean, and you can see the intent and financial backing is there to make Glasgow a competitive outfit.
”Watching from afar the last couple of years I was pretty worried about the way things were going to Glasgow and Edinburgh not holding on to their top players, but there’s real positive talk and action now, and you see how quickly they reacted to me becoming available.
”I’ve been impressed with the young players coming through and it quickly became clear to me in discussions this was the perfect place for me to come, especially with a view to getting back in the Scotland team.”
Lamont knows Montpellier well. They were the opposition the last time he played for Toulon a 27-3 loss that ensured Fabien Galthie’s team qualified for the playoffs at Toulon’s expense.
He added: ”They’re a formidable side with lots of power.”
Photo by Mark Runnacles/PA Wire