Dobie raring to go ahead of first start

It was the year that saw Gladiator walk away with the Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards, Gorillaz release their debut single and the GameBoy Advance hit the shelves.

Yet Jamie
Dobie is unlikely to remember any of those moments as someone born in July 2001
– after all of the aforementioned landmarks took place.

Not that any
of that is likely to be playing on the mind of the teenage scrum-half as he
prepares to make his first start for the club, though.

“I’m really
excited,” he told glasgowwarriors.org ahead of tonight’s clash with the Dragons at Scotstoun.

“It’s been
great to get game time off the bench both at the start of the season and then
again last week, and I can’t wait to get out there tonight.

“It’ll be a
whole different challenge to coming off the bench, but it’s a challenge I’m
really looking forward to.”

Still in the
midst of his debut season as a professional, it’s safe to say that Dobie has
already developed a knack for interventions that set social media alight. After
his hit on Jonny Stewart in September’s pre-season clash against Ulster went
viral, his 70-metre break against Zebre almost resulted in a spectacular solo
try that had the Warrior Nation on their feet.

“I just
picked the ball up from Stafford [McDowall], and I noticed one of their players
shift up a bit,” said Dobie.

“The gap
just opened up, really – I just went for it! I managed to get around a couple
and nearly got over the line, but it’s good that it led to a try [for Tom
Gordon] in the end.

“I had a bit
of stick from Tom and Jacko [Ruaridh Jackson] for not passing to them when they
were up alongside me in support – Jacko was telling me he’d have been in, but
I’m pretty sure their covering defender would have tracked back and got him! I
should have given it to them, to be fair, I just had my blinkers on by that
point.”

Dobie and
company will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run when the Dragons come to
town later this evening, as the Warriors defend a run of form that sees them
unbeaten in all competitions at the start of the new decade. Whilst the race
for a playoff place in Conference A continues, the scrum-half is taking it all
in his stride.

“It’s been a
pretty smooth transition [from school rugby to professionalism]” said Dobie.

“There were
a few Scotland players away during pre-season, but it was good to get to know
the boys that were still at Scotstoun on and off the pitch. The game time at
the start of the season, too, was great for my confidence – it’s been a fantastic
first season for me so far.

“Getting the
win is the main goal for the team. For me, I just want to go out there and
enjoy myself. It’s always a great experience when you’re selected, and even
more so when you’re playing in front of the fans at Scotstoun.

“As long as
we do the basics well first and foremost, then the rest should hopefully
follow.”