Glasgow Warriors play their fourth Heineken Champions Cup group game of the season on Saturday, the return leg from yesterday’s away win in Lyon. Stewart Weir looks ahead to the encounter at Scotstoun and gives a pointer – and an opinion – on what could be the key elements in that game, and beyond.
If you think Tyson Fury produced a great comeback ...
... then it would take a comparable, Lazarus-like effort from Lyon to upset Glasgow next week.
Just how do Lyon recover from yesterday’s hammering?
You can take nothing for granted in sport. In these parts, you only need to reflect on what happened at Murrayfield on Friday evening to appreciate that, even in adversity, as with the somewhat depleted ranks of Newcastle Falcons, teams have an inner pride and professional standards they will defend to the hilt. But that was the Falcons on the road, not Lyon.
It is difficult to imagine that Lyon will show anything like that commitment to the cause while facing Glasgow at Scotstoun. They have nothing to play for in Europe, after losing to Cardiff, Saracens and Glasgow so maintaining their lofty perch in the French Top 14 table has to be their priority now.
But what could cost Glasgow? Overconfidence?
Not a hope with Dave "Mr Grounded" Rennie in charge. Even after a second consecutive five-point win on the road, and with the chance of knockout European club rugby a possibility, and with two home matches against the two sides you’ve already beaten (Cardiff and Lyon), the Kiwi coach isn’t getting too worked up.
“We’re not going to look too far ahead,” agreed Rennie. “What we know is, if we get it right next week, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position heading into the last couple of rounds in January, starting with Cardiff at home.
“We’re desperate to still be in the mix come the knockouts and we’ve got some tough games coming up.”
What about ill-discipline then?
Against Scarlets in the PRO14, Warriors played three-quarter of that game with 14 men after a red card. Yesterday, Tim Swinson was yellowed at a key stage of the game and, during the match, Glasgow gave up excellent field territory when prop Oli Kebble, after a forceful clear-out, undid his handywork by working his hand into the face of Felix Lambey.
TMO evidence was inconclusive, but referee Matt Carley accepted the word of his touch judge, and Glasgow were back on their heels.
Rennie says it is an area that his side needs to tightening up on.
“We’ve played with 14 recently and we know how to maintain ball in those situations and I thought the boys controlled that period pretty well.
“We only gave away six penalties last week (against Scarlets, compared to 16 versus Lyon), and in the past few weeks we’ve kept the count to single figures. So that aspect of the game is disappointing, and we kicked away too much ball giving them a lot of opportunities to attack us. It’s something for us to look at and be better at next week.”
Never change a winning team …
… but this is professional rugby in 2018 and changes, either to refresh the team or through injury, is part of the game. Rennie, who made 12 changes for the game in Lyon, has his own ideas for Saturday.
“We’ll put a very strong side on the field next week. There will be changes.
“There’s not an awful lot between a lot of our boys and we want to reward performance and provide opportunities.
“There will be a handful of changes, but we’ll be putting out as good a side as possible to get the job done."
So, in European terms, what do Warriors fans want for Christmas?
Another bonus-point win over Lyon please Santa. Oh, and a ticket for the Cardiff game at Scotstoun. Not too much to expect. It would just be greedy to ask for a miracle at Saracens...
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