Barclay looks at final say in farewell tour
Scarlets star gunning for Glasgow
WheN John Barclay parts ways with Scarlets at the end of this season, there will be sorrow. Just how sweet it is depends on events at Scotstoun tomorrow night.
The Scotland captain has embarked on a long goodbye to the Welsh side that he has taken to his heart, the 31-year-old having agreed a move to edinburgh back in November last year.
Barclay credits Scarlets for helping him kickstart his career after he arrived there five years ago following his departure from Glasgow Warriors, the side that now stands between him and a Pro14 final send-off.
And the back-row forward is desperate to repay their faith in him by helping to deliver back-to-back league titles.
‘I am going to go out there at Scotstoun against Glasgow and do my utmost to make sure we get to another final,’ said Barclay, who was captain when Scarlets won last year’s title with an emphatic 46-22 victory over Munster.
‘I want to be with Scarlets a few weeks longer, that’s for sure. I know the Glasgow guys well, but I am here to do a job for the Scarlets and to help them make it to the final.
‘My last Glasgow home game was my 150th appearance for the club. That was five years ago and I ran out with Graeme Morrison, who was retiring, so it was nice.
‘That moment will always live with me and I still have good pals at the club, but it is all about Scarlets now for me. Beating Glasgow is the only thing on my mind.
‘I am looking forward to my move to edinburgh, but I want to delay it a bit so I can leave Scarlets with another league winners’ medal.
‘I have loved my time in Wales and want to end it well.’
Barclay has been in fantastic form this season and was a vital player in his team’s run to the european Champions Cup semi-final, where they lost to Leinster in Dublin. The flanker certainly doesn’t want to lose in another last-four clash.
‘The semi-final was a big disappointment,’ he continued. ‘Now, like then, you don’t get second chances in knockout competition. If we lose now to Glasgow, it’s over — and it’s the same for them.
‘There is a bit of pressure because of that, but we won away last year in the league semi-final and were the first team to win an away semi-final. We did it with 14 men for 43 minutes against Leinster in Dublin after we had a man sent off.
‘I obviously know the Glasgow players from Scotland camps and from playing with some of them at the club in the past.
‘They will be motivated. They are in the same boat as us because they know that, if they don’t play well, then it will be the end of their season. It’s going to be a very tough day.’
Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac admitted he has relied heavily on Barclay, opting to appoint him as club captain.
‘John has been immense since my arrival and this is coming to the end of my fourth season,’ said the New Zealander.
‘his knowledge of the game is very good. he has shown how good a captain he is when he has been leading our side.
‘he showed in the league semi-final and final last year that we won that he is a very good leader of players. They listen to him and follow him.’