Bennett urges Warriors to up game for Scarlets
By Gary Heatly MARK BENNETT believes Glasgow Warriors have plenty to improve upon despite recording their seventh Guinness Pro12 win on the spin.
The Scotstoun outfit came out on top 43-14 at Zebre, but only after a scare.
The struggling Italian side came out firing and were 14-7 up at the interval.
After a few stern words from head coach Gregor Townsend, the Warriors clicked into gear in the second 40 minutes and are now well on track for a top-four finish and a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
However, ahead of the trip to the Scarlets, Scotland cap Bennett knows there is a lot of work to do.
‘We know as a group that the first half was not good enough,’ he said.
‘They came at us quickly and I don’t think we got ourselves set properly or into the defensive structures we are comfortable with.
‘The good thing was that we were able to get one try in the first half and, being only seven points down, we knew we were still in the game.
‘After the break, things came together well, passes started to stick and we began to attack like we know we can. Some of the tries were really well worked and, as a squad, it is always good to know how much firepower we have.’
The bonus-point victory came on the back of another win in Italy, against Treviso, and Bennett is now fully focused on the run-in.
‘It was really good to get a week away as a group and stay in Italy,’ he stated. ‘But this week we will need to work hard on a few things because the Scarlets are a very good outfit.
‘However, we are in a good place with three matches left and are determined to go on and make the play-offs, and then anything can happen from there.’
When Bennett and his pro team-mates are in Wales on Saturday, Carrick will be playing in the BT Shield Final against Highland at Murrayfield.
Bennett has coached the Carrick backs for the last two years, and said: ‘The guys have worked hard and will enjoy their day out.’