Ryan Wilson believes Glasgow Warriors can give Scottish rugby a morale-boosting lift by winning the United Rugby Championship (URC) Grand Final.
Franco Smith’s men head into Saturday’s match-up with the Bulls in Pretoria as underdogs to take the trophy.
But the former Scotland back-rower – part of the 2015 Glasgow side that won the Pro12 – believes Warriors’ semi-final win over Munster shows they have what it takes to go all the way.
And the Premier Sports pundit is backing his old club to help raise the spirits of rugby fans by clinching their first piece of silverware for nine years.
He said: “Glasgow Warriors are really flying the flag for Scottish rugby at the moment.
“Edinburgh have been really disappointing this season with some of the names they’ve got in there, and I think people are looking to Glasgow to do the job for Scottish rugby.
“It could give everyone a boost, but certainly in Glasgow. Either way there’ll be a big party and if they win that trophy it’ll be incredible scenes.
“With how it’s worked out they are going to struggle to get fans out to Pretoria but I know there is a watch party at Platform for Glasgow Warriors fans which is sold out already, so you know the fans back in Glasgow will be cheering the team on.
“I would love to be in Glasgow but I’m equally happy to be out there and, when and if the boys do the job, I’ll be celebrating with them.
"I genuinely believe this is a team that’s got something special. And like I said, as much as I’d love to be in Glasgow, it’s going to be good fun going down to Pretoria.
“Glasgow will be bouncing. I know that the fans have been there all season.
"The brand of rugby they play - the boys talk about it in meetings - they want to represent the city, they want the fans to see a piece of them in the way they represent the club, and I certainly think they’ve done that.
“It’s not just the way they play, it’s the fighting spirit they put into every single match and pour into that jersey, I know it’s going to mean a lot to the Glasgow Warriors fans.
“So, yes, I think the boys can do it and I hope they can replicate what we did in 2015 and go on and win the final.”
READ MORE: Richie Vernon reflects on Glasgow's 2015 Pro12 title win
Warriors have reached two finals since that 2015 triumph, losing both, and Wilson agrees it's time the supporters had another trophy to celebrate.
He added: “I think it is. I said a few weeks ago when I looked at the Bulls-Leinster semi-final that if Glasgow got over the line and beat Munster I would rather play the Bulls in Pretoria.
“It sounds crazy because of how good the Bulls are and the conditions that the Glasgow boys are about to face, but I just think it’s about time for Glasgow to put another trophy in the cabinet.
“Because they built really nicely last year, they didn’t get what they wanted in a final.
“People go ‘Is it time for Glasgow to win again?’ Well, Franco has only been there for two years. But he’s made such big strides in the team that I think already people are going ‘Yeah, this is a team that should be winning something’.
"With that attacking back line they’ve got, yes, this is a team that should be winning silverware.”
Ryan Wilson is part of the Premier Sports team bringing live coverage of the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final this Saturday from 4pm (UK) as Glasgow Warriors take on Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Ryan joins a top Premier Sports team of Ross Harries, John Barclay, Stephen Ferris, Tom Shanklin, Thinus Delport, Chris Paterson and Rory Hamilton for an hour of build-up, live commentary and all the post-match reaction live on Premier Sports. Visit www.premiersports.com for more information.
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