Craigy interupted his domestic chores to talk to glasgowwarriors.com"It's kind of frustrating. In some games we've had the majority of the possession and position, but we just lack composure in the opponents' 22, to not panic and push that final pass... but we've been saying that for a few weeks now."
"The guys are positive, and I know there are a lot of injuries, but there a lot of good players who are fit and willing. If you look at the team on paper, there's still an opportunity for us to turn Leinster over, especially at home. The last three times we've played them, it has been really close. I think we're due a win to be honest."
"I can't remember having played with a team with so many injuries. And they haven't even been small injuries either – shoulder reconstructions, two dislocations and fractures within two weeks – so when Johnny Beattie went down last week, we couldn't believe it! I think we've got 10 out at the moment – I've not seen worse than that."
Craigy knows all about injuries and long-term layoffs, having had a nightmare season last year with injuries. "It's quite hard to be optimistic and stay positive, to be honest. It's a nightmare. I was out for 8 months, and before that I was playing injured for 6 months. You just have to get on with the rehab, and, it sounds bad, but hope for someone else to do rehab with! Because when you're doing it on your own, it's awful. It's not a nice place to be in. So I feel for the likes of Donnie, who's training his socks off, and is almost ready to return, and then his comeback gets delayed, so I hope he's back soon."
"The only thing you gain from a period of being out with an injury, is you learn the importance of not getting injured again!!! You just have to do your rehab, and do it properly. You’ve got to do the little exercises as well, where you feel like you aren’t doing anything – sometimes you kinda look like you aren’t doing anything as well! But its all the little things that get you better."
Andy is more than well qualified to sympathise with his injured team-mates
As one of the more experienced members of such a young team (and no, I don't mean he's old!), who does Andy reckon are our more promising players? "Rory Lamont is pretty special, he’s going to go a long way – if I were Glasgow I’d get him signed up on a long-term deal! Also, John Beattie – he’s got all the tools to be whatever he wants – he’s got great hands, he’s very quick – as quick as any of the backs." What about the experiments with Aberdeen, which have seen John playing with the backs? Is this a potential switch? "To be honest, I wouldn’t – it could possibly work, I mean Jonah Lomu started as an 8, but I think sometimes you do a few speed trials and see a forward that’s fast so think, lets get him in the backs, but what’s worked for him in the past has been he’s quicker than any of the other forwards and that what’s put him in space and made him look good, so I’d like to persist with him in the back row."
Craigy has seen a few partnerships in the centre for Glasgow, including old friend and team mate, Scott (Wheels) Barrow. Does he have a preference for who is playing alongside? "Personally it's better for me to play with a ball playing 12, which I think Scott does well, because obviously you’re going to get a bit more ball off him. But if you look at Glasgow, we’ve got a few good 12’s, who can play different types of game, and mix it up a little. Either crash it up over the advantage line, or use it, so I enjoy playing with them all!" (Full marks to Andy for diplomacy on this one!)
Andy is one of a handful of players at Glasgow, who have played rugby league before converting to the other code, with Hefin O'Hare the most recent arrival from the dark side. But what can players from this background offer to rugby union that makes them an attractive addition to a squad? "I’ve been asked this before, and I honestly didn’t know! From a defensive point of view, I guess we’re taught to communicate more – as school boys, you do a lot more defensive work and get taught to talk more. But I couldn’t say what else they bring to union – the spectators could probably tell you better than I can."
From the other side of the coin, which of our own players would be able to make the switch to rugby league? "I think Rory Lamont would do a real good job, he’d be excellent, as would Sean (although he's gone now), and probably also G-Dog (Graeme Morrison) – a few of the backs would step straight in, but it would be harder for the forwards to adapt. I’d say JP would enjoy playing in the back row at league – there’s a lot more ball carrying, which he enjoys."
Craigy is one of the most successful examples of a switch from Rugby League to UnionAnother example of a league import at Glasgow is Gary Mercer, the new Warriors defense coach, who has represented New Zealand, playing for years with Leeds, before coaching teams such as Oldham and Castleford. "I played with Gary Mercer years ago, so I knew him anyway, before he came to Glasgow. But we’ve never really had a defensive coach before he came, and he obviously knows what he’s on about, and has a belief in what he’s doing, but he’s also willing to say "I'm not an expert on Union, so I'll listen to you guys as well". It has been an eye opener for a few of the guys, because before no one really got pulled up and shown you’re actually doing this wrong or doing this right, but he'll do that, and he's helped quite a few of the guys. He's been looking at the stats with young Robert the video analysis guy, and some of the defensive stats have improved beyond recognition – we’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting there!"
"Looking ahead, a goal for me now – I’ve just been punted from the national squad, so a big goal for me is to get back in the squad for the 6 Nations. I was lucky enough to play in all of the 6 Nations games last year, so just get back in for them – fingers crossed someone gets injured and I get back in for the New Zealand game – no, no, not injured – a bad run of form or something?"
"They’re the games you want to play in, I’ve never played against New Zealand before so that was a big one for me. Perhaps I may have missed that one now, but we’ll see what happens."
"I wouldn’t say I did anything wrong, but I didn’t do enough – I know I didn’t do enough. I need to offer a little more in attack - I suppose getting dropped from the national side is as good a kick up the ass as you’re going to get really, so fingers crossed I can show that when I get back. I suppose I’m that kind of player – I maybe don’t do too many things wrong, but I’ve got to offer that little bit more. I mean we’re talking international rugby, and you shouldn't just get in because you're not doing much wrong, so I just have to step it up a gear."
Although he's disappointed personally, Andy is still able to be happy for his team-mates, who are included in the squad, particularly those who have been called up for the first time. "I'm made up for Gregor Hayter, I think he's come over and been coming off the bench for us, making an impact, making great lines, he's done really well for us."
Craigy is determined to get back into the national squadAndy moved to Glasgow last year - so what does he think of the city? "I’ve really loved it to be honest – it was always going to be easy for me, with 30 guys to slot in with, but it was getting my wife to fit in, but luckily she has, and an old friend from Liverpool has given her a job. She's fitted in well, and gets on with the girls, so it's all worked out really well. My contract's up at the end of the season, and we both want to stay for another couple of years – so Hugh, if you’re reading this..."
By this point, we've reached the end of my prepared questions, so I offered Craigy the opportunity for one final word: "Tell Mike Roberts to stop posing! Did you see that article in the Evening Times? He’s a funny guy, he comes out with his cowboy boots and farmer’s cap on, and goes way over the top, but he loves it!"
Many thanks to Andy for sparing the time to talk to glasgowwarriors.com, and posing for photos in the rain, and apologies to Anna - we hope Andy managed to get the rest of his tidying up done!