YOU can look at the circumstances that lead to a coach force-feeding his youngsters into the team in two ways. In one, it can be proof of how desperate things have become that he is having to drain the Academy to fill the first-team pool. In another it can be proving the old adage that if you are good enough, you are old enough.

Some have already made their case. From last season’s Scotland Under 20s squad, Zander Fagerson has risen rapidly to become a key man not just for Glasgow, but for Scotland. Scott Cummings was well on his way to becoming a regular in the Glasgow side before a shoulder injury derailed his season.

Now they are being joined by two more. Lewis Wynne has already had four starts and six runs from the bench in the back row and when they play the Ospreys today, he will be heading for his 11th professional match.

Alongside him will be his old sparring partner in the Under 20s, Matt Smith – another whose breakthrough has been held back by injuries at the wrong times.

“We played together from the Under 15s level at Stirling County,” Wynne said. “He is a great player. I’m delighted to see him get his first start, I’m sure he will go out there and do a job.

“He has great potential. An out-and-out seven, physical and really fit. He has a real desire to play, he wants to go out and be physical.

“During the Six Nations is a massive opportunity for a lot of guys in the squad, a lot of first starts, a lot of people without many club caps playing. This is a chance to go out and prove ourselves on an actual battleground knowing that if we do produce, then more chances will come.”

Wynne himself is a perfect example. He owes his chance to being available for Glasgow during the November Tests when he proved his ability to play all across the back row with games in each of the three roles, including being one of the few stand-out players when his side stuttered to defeat at the Scarlets at the start of that series.

“The coaches are really good at recognising potential and if you earn it, they will give you game time,” he said. “I can hardly believe that I am about to sit with 11 caps, I was never expecting that. I feel I have had a lot of experience and fit in so much better.

“My first game was against Ulster and I was scared as anything. They were massive. The first tackle I got run over by [Stuart] McCloskey and then got dumped out of a ruck – welcome to pro rugby.”

The issue for Glasgow is not so much that Gregor Townsend is having to use players like Wynne and Smith, but that with 13 on Scotland duty plus the usual run of mid-season injuries, he is having to throw so many in together.

It is not just the Under 20s trio of Wynne, Smith and Cummings. Jamie Bhatti, a 23-year-old prop whose first pro contract does not kick in for another four months, is also starting, as is shot-term signing Brandon Thomson, who made his debut last week at full-back but now gets a shot in his favourite role at fly-half.

All that at the ground of one of the form teams of the Guinness PRO12, who have a team who are much more battle hardened. For example both sides have a prop making his first start: Glasgow’s is Bhatti, the Ospreys is Brian Mujati, the 32-year-old former Springbok, so no comparison when it comes to experience.

Yet, as Townsend accepted during the week, this is a game they have to win. After the Scarlets won last night, Glasgow are now 12 points off fourth place with seven games, including today’s, to go.

Just as worrying, Cardiff Blues are now only four points behind after their win in Edinburgh. Time is running out if they are to rescue their season.