Dolokoto at the double

As far as debuts go, Mesu Dolokoto’s first appearance in a Glasgow Warriors jersey could hardly have been any better.

Two tries
against Zebre on Friday night saw the Fijian international write his name into
the club’s history books, the hooker becoming the first player since the club’s
inaugural match to touch down twice on his first appearance for the club.

Add in the
fact that the first of his brace came just two minutes after coming onto the
field as a temporary replacement for George Turner, and you’d be hard pressed
to script a better introduction to the Warrior Nation.

“It was
hectic!” laughed Dolokoto.

“The game
was going really quickly – I’d been on the pitch for two minutes and it felt
like I’d been there all game!”

As the
latest in a fabled line of ‘Weegies fae Fiji’, it was perhaps fitting that the
hooker’s opening score came courtesy of an international team-mate. Yet as
Dolokoto explains, being next to Leone Nakarawa in order to collect the big man’s
offload out of a four-man tackle was no accident.

“I was in
the right place at the right time, and next to the right person,” smiled the
hooker.

“Having
played together for Fiji, you get used to reading his body language and working
out what he’s going to do.

“That close
to the try-line, too, it’s always a good idea to hang around next to him!”

In notching
Glasgow’s final try of the night, Dolokoto ensured that he’d be doubling up on his
debut when he collected a short-range pass from Kyle Steyn to canter over unopposed.
With the best try-to-games ratio in the club, though, the Fijian is well aware
of how high he’s set the bar.

“I looked at
the clock, saw there was two minutes left and thought ‘might as well go hard’!”
admitted Dolokoto.

“I didn’t expect
to get the ball from Steyno to be honest – I got lucky again, he did well to
get the pass away.

“I went to
sign some shirts and magazines afterwards as well as pose for photos, and the
fans were telling me I need to live up to that standard from now on!”

The hooker
will be looking to follow up on his impressive debut this weekend, with the
Dragons next to visit Scotstoun on Saturday night. Yet Dolokoto himself isn’t
getting carried away, instead living every moment of his first season with the
club to the fullest.

“Being in
this environment is a blessing,” he said.

“Being
around world-class players and working with guys like Fraser [Brown], George
[Turner] and Grant [Stewart] in my position is awesome. Getting the call-up
last weekend was great, and I’m just taking every day as it comes. If I’m selected
again this weekend, I want to keep showing what I can do.

“Last week
wasn’t too bad in terms of the weather, so hopefully it’s the same again this
weekend! I’m excited to get out there if selected and help the boys as much as
I can.”