Hogg still pained by roasting
GLASGOW’S niggly approach is something that Leinster can’t allow to distract them.
That’s the view of back row Jack Conan, who insists that the Blues must keep their discipline in the face of any provocation during tomorrow’s PRO14 decider at Glasgow’s
Celtic Park (right).
“I think it does work,” said Conan of the Warriors’ tactics. “I think it gets under people’s skin and they lose focus. It is quite similar to what happened to us against Munster in December.
“We went down there and they got in under our skin, distracted us from playing our own game. There was indiscipline from us and that’s why they won.
“We were only indisciplined because they got under our skin - or we allowed them to get in under our skin.
“Glasgow are similar in that they can be quite in your face. If you let it get to you, it’s going to distract you from your job and you’re not going to be 100% focused on the job in hand. We will obviously go in with the same mindset we had against Munster.
“We have to not let that faze us, we just have to worry about us, celebrate our small victories and then execute our gameplan.” STUART HOGG says Glasgow are gunning to avoid the humiliation they suffered at Leinster’s hands in Scotstoun last season. That 34-18 rout occurred over 18 months ago, in the Champions Cup pool stages, and Hogg recalled: “They came across here and bullied us.
“I think we have had some good ding dong battles with Leinster over the years. At times in big games we came up short.”
However, as he prepares for his last game for Glasgow before his departure for Exeter Chiefs, the classy Scotland full-back knows the Warriors are a team transformed under Dave Rennie.
“For me, it’s all about doing my job for the team and making sure that we give ourselves the best opportunity to lift a trophy,” said the 26-year-old.
“If I’m going out there and expressing myself, having some fun and having a smile on my face then it means that things are going quite well for us.
“It’s going to be a hugely physical battle up front. Defensively we are going to have to be spot on, to try and keep their key players out of the game as much as we can and make the most of the opportunities we get with the ball.
“Rugby is a fairly simple game when you get it right so here’s hoping at the weekend we can do exactly that.”