Glasgow get set to up physicality ahead of pool decider at Saracens GLASGOW WARRIORS
SCOTT CUMMINGS’ try may have made a vital contribution to Glasgow Warriors’ win that kept them in contention to win their Champions Cup pool, but the lock knows it is more basic chores that the team’s forwards must attend to if they are to have any chance at Saracens on Saturday.
He and his colleagues were in danger of squandering the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the opening half of Sunday’s meeting with Cardiff, but while Cummings and hooker Grant Stewart scored the tries that eventually put them on course for the bonus-point win they needed, he acknowledged that doubts remain about Glasgow’s front five.
“A lot of people say we are not the biggest team, don’t have the biggest pack but we know our way and if we play our way we can win,” said Cummings.
“They [Saracens] have a big pack but we can counter that. We have to stop their game as best we can, make them do things they are not comfortable with.
“I would say the only way to beat a big pack is to beat them up front. If you are getting beaten up by a big pack it is hard to go anywhere. We have to match their physicality, our defence has to be solid and we cannot allow them to have parity anywhere.”
In terms of working out how best to take them on, Cummings reckons that they can gain some advantage in the inside knowledge available from Petrus du Plessis, the prop who joined Glasgow this season from London Irish, having played for Saracens when they were winning the Champions Cup.
“He [du Plessis] has been away [from Saracens] for a year or two but he does have some experience in understanding what their mindset is and has had a big impact since he came,” said Cummings.
“He has done a lot of coaching for the scrum and is helping out in that area a lot.”