All eyes on Parma for Kebble

• 29 Nov 2022
• Interviews

The score-line might not have been the ideal way – to put it mildly – to open a block of fixtures, but Saturday’s defeat to Leinster presented Glasgow Warriors with a host of positives ahead of this weekend’s BKT URC Round Nine clash with Zebre Parma.

That’s according to loose-head prop Oli Kebble, who echoed the sentiments of Head Coach Franco Smith in the immediate aftermath of events at the RDS when asked to reflect on the match.

🎟 Match tickets are now on general sale for Glasgow Warriors 🆚 Perpignan, Edinburgh (1872 Cup) Stormers and Bath

Secure your seat today and be there to roar on your Warriors at Scotstoun! 👉 https://t.co/X4CVuBDT3V pic.twitter.com/RkEwuTS8yH

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) November 15, 2022

With the Warriors enjoying the majority of territory and possession at the home of the league leaders, the Scotland international knows that there’s something just bubbling under at Scotstoun.

“We were obviously disappointed with the result on Saturday, but there were definitely a lot of positives to take out of the match,” Kebble told glasgowwarriors.org.

“We’re still growing as a playing group, and I’d say the scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the match as a whole.

“We created enough opportunities to win that game – the last pass just let us down on far too many occasions. We know that, though, and we know that if we stay true to our processes then it’ll come good for us.

“We’re getting closer to the level that we know we need to be at week in, week out, and we know we’re close to everything clicking into place.”

Having welcomed back nine Scotland squad members for last weekend’s match, the majority of the rest of Glasgow’s international cohort have returned to full training at Scotstoun this week, only serving to heighten the competition for places ahead of this weekend.

It’s competition that’s being conducted with both high intensity and high morale, however, as Kebble explains.

“There’s a really good energy around the squad right now,” said the prop.

“It’s been great to welcome boys back into the squad after their time with Scotland, and there’s a huge buzz as we start out on the second block of fixtures.

“It’s a great place to come and play rugby and we’re all getting stuck in.”

Saturday’s clash in Parma also presents the Warriors with a two-pronged opportunity; not only does the match present a chance to strike against a Scottish-Italian Shield rival in the battle for Heineken Champions Cup qualification, but it also provides the latest chance for the Warriors to claim a first away win of the season.

It’s a match that Kebble is eager to get stuck into, as preparations continue at pace for this weekend’s encounter.

“Every game is important, regardless of who we’re playing,” he said.

“We want to go out this weekend and get the win, partly because we’re up against our Shield rivals, but also because we’ve not managed to get across the line away from home so far this season.

“We haven’t won away in a while, so this weekend is an opportunity for us to right that wrong.”