Glasgow Warriors coach relishing challenge of European Champions Cup

There’s no reason why Glasgow Warriors can’t bridge the yawning resources gap and have a successful European Rugby Champions Cup campaign, believes head coach Dave Rennie.

The distance between Glasgow’s wage bill and their rivals in their pool is “an excuse if you want one” but the bluff New Zealander isn’t the type to look for excuses and certainly not here, ahead of the opening game away to English champions Exeter Chiefs tonight.

“We talked a lot about expectations at the start of our campaign,” he said.

“We are not here to make up the numbers. We know Exeter are an outstanding team as are Leinster and Montpellier. But you have to have a positive mindset, set high goals and try to achieve them. That’s what we have talked about so far in the PRO14 and nothing changes in this competition.”

Glasgow have built strength in depth and added players from last year’s somewhat rude awakening in the quarter-finals at Saracens.

“We haven’t even talked about that game, there’s plenty of new players who didn’t have that experience,” he said.

“Look, we’re well aware that it’s not necessarily a level playing field when it comes to salary caps and so on but you can use that as excuse or you just get on with it.

“In the end there will be 15 versus 15 and our guys are focused on performance rather than who’s getting what. I don’t think you can afford to worry about that sort of thing – it’s just who is the best on the night.”

One thing that hasn’t helped Glasgow ahead of their biggest game of the season to date is the gruelling return from altitude in South Africa last week, but Rennie is confident that it has been managed as well as possible.

“It was pretty tough and more, how things worked out,” he said.

“We jumped on the bus after the game and arrived in Jo’burg at 4.30am. Most of the guys had stayed up the whole trip, so in terms of recovery we were a bit behind.

“We got a fair bit of work done around the review and got a bit of clarity over what will be important this weekend.

“But while we focus more on what we’ve done over the last six weeks and what we have to do better, we know the intensity will go up a couple of notches against an impressive Exeter side, and we’re excited by that challenge.”

Rennie has watched the Chiefs from afar and is impressed by the whole set up of the Sandy Park club.

“We have played some pretty good sides but this is another level,” he said.

“Their talent identification and talent programme has been outstanding and they have come a long way in the last four or five years.

“We’ve had a really good look at them and there are some areas we know we’ll have to compete really well. If we can do that, we’re in with a shout.”

Rennie has made only two changes form the team that beat the Cheetahs last week, recalling Lee Jones to the wing and Peter Horne to the inside centre slot.

There’s no place in the 23 for Stuart Hogg, who returned to full contact training only this week, but he’s expected to feature off the bench for the second pool game against Leinster at Scotstoun next week.

Picture: SNS. Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has called for a positive mindset from the Glasgow camp as they prepare for their European Champions Cup opener against Exeter Chiefs today.