END THE TREND
Fagerson out to halt bogey side Munster
AT least Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie doesn’t carry the same baggage into tonight’s sold-out Guinness Pro14 game against Munster as the majority of his players.
The sides clashed four times last season with the Irish club coming out on top on each occasion. Did someone say bogey team?
Rennie’s arrival in the summer at least provides a fresh perspective on what went before. He is determined to play down the importance of those past losses, yet has watched each one on video while seeking an insight from previous coach Gregor Townsend.
‘We have done a lot of homework as they were tight games,’ said Rennie. ‘They were arm wrestles that could have gone either way. This latest game is a good litmus test for us. We’ll get a bit of an idea of where we’re at this season.
‘I am of the belief that history counts for nothing. It is what we do in the 80 minutes that will be key but I am sure there will be personal motivations for individuals who played in those games.’
That is certainly the case for prop-forward Zander Fagerson after defeats in the league and European Champions Cup.
‘They weren’t the best results last year with four games, four losses,’ said Fagerson. ‘In saying that, the last two games we played against them were very tight losses but, at the end of the day, a loss is a loss.
‘Munster has always been a tough encounter. They are one of the bogey teams.
‘The Cardiff Blues last weekend were a good side but Munster are at a different level. They have a different style of play and they are going well this season.
‘We’ve been grinding out the wins but we haven’t had an 80-minute performance we can be happy with. We are nowhere near where we can be but if everything clicks, we’ll get the win.’
Glasgow have had the hardest run of opening games, winning away to Connacht, at home to Ospreys then away to Cardiff Blues. Munster have beaten Benetton Rugby and Cheetahs at home and Ospreys away.
Fagerson has started every Pro14 match so far and although he will have to take the main power of the opposition scrum again tonight, he wants to keep playing as often as possible.
‘I’ve just got to dig deep,’ said the 12-times capped Scotland prop. ‘If the coach tells me I can play then I want to play because it’s the only way to get better, the only way to improve.’
He is part of an unchanged Glasgow front row that has Jamie Bhatti at loose-head and George Turner at hooker. Fagerson is the most experienced of the lot in terms of game time and is the only international player among them.
You would expect a Fagersoninspired Glasgow front row to get the better of their Munster counterparts of Irish props Liam O’Connor and Stephen Archer either side of New Zealander Rhys Marshall. None of that three has international experience.
The Glasgow tight-head has welcomed the appointment of Nigel Owens, arguably the world’s best referee, as the man in charge.
‘He is one of the most renowned referees in the world,’ said Fagerson. ‘We know what he likes to penalise and how he refs.
‘I would say there is more of a hit and chase at the scrum now with the new rule changes. You can put the ball in whenever you want, so you get the hit, get the forward momentum, the ball comes in and on you go.
‘Last year, it was stability first and then the ball came in. It has not been a massive change but there is a wee bit to work on yet in matches.’
Although Glasgow will field a strong side they will badly miss winger Tommy Seymour, who withdrew following a leg injury he picked up in the win over Cardiff Blues over the weekend.
There are concerns over a knee problem suffered by centre Alex Dunbar in the same game, with tests expected to show he could be out for a few weeks at the very least.
Prop Oli Kebble is likely to be out for a few months with a foot injury. Former Scotland loosehead prop Ryan Grant, who is a free agent, is training with the squad, with a view to securing a short-term contract as cover.
There is better news over hooker Fraser Brown, who underwent ankle surgery back in June, and who is set to return to action against Treviso next weekend.
Jonny Gray, who was expected to be out until mid-October after an operation on his wrist, is also making quicker than expected progress and could also come into the reckoning for the game against the Italian outfit.