Warriors have the chance to end their southern discomfort
GLASGOW’S record against English opposition in England is poor, but next Sunday’s European Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Saracens is about the future and little to do with the past.
With almost all of their internationalists back in harness and focused on silverware, there is a new intent about the Warriors as they head to Allianz Park and a meeting with the reigning European champions.
With such Test stalwarts as Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar, Finn Russell, Ali Price, Fraser Brown, Jonny Gray and the stellar back row, it is fair to say Glasgow have never travelled with such riches in more than 20 years of European competition.
So it is somewhat irrelevant to talk about the club’s record of having won just once in England in this competition.
In various guises, the Warriors have claimed the scalps of leading Premiership clubs Leicester, Bath, Northampton, Gloucester, Wasps and Sale at home — but have beaten only Exeter away.
However, too many of those defeats south of the border have been agonisingly close.
Glasgow’s one and only encounter with Saracens in the Champions Cup came in 2007-8, when they lost narrowly home and away.
The Warriors started tamely at Vicarage Road in the first match and were 25-11 down at the break.
They responded well in the second half, with tries from Hefin O’Hare and Al Kellock cutting the gap to two points, although it was too late to salvage the game.
In the return at Firhill, Glasgow were kicking themselves for blowing a first chance to reach the last eight as an interception try claimed by fly-half Glen Jackson — now a world-class referee — and another soft score let the English side steal ahead again before Bernardo Stortoni’s try and four penalties from Dan Parks cut the deficit to four points.
That win propelled Saracens into the last eight for the first time in their history and was to prove a significant launchpad for the Londoners as they rose to be among the best in England and Europe.
Saracens went on to the semifinals, before suffering a narrow 18-16 loss to eventual champions Munster in the last four.
That was an indication a decade ago of how close Glasgow were to the European elite.
So they will head south next weekend with a squad believing they deserve to be among the top eight sides in Europe.
The level of belief has risen sharply in the past two years, the Pro12 title success a key factor and improving performances from their players when representing Scotland under Vern Cotter.
If anyone doubted whether Warriors were the real thing, their stunning 43-0 demolition of Leicester at Welford Road to seal their place in the quarter-finals proved their quality.
All those involved with Glasgow were left stunned when Scotland were blown away by England in the Calcutta Cup, but that 40-point reverse could now prove to be manna from heaven for head coach Gregor Townsend and Co.
It brought a dose of reality to any Scots who might have believed the gap had been closed. Returning to London to face the likes of Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Mako and Billy Vunipola should bring a sharp reminder of such perils.
Glasgow could not have drawn a harder opponent but there is a sense that 2016-17 has been truly significant — a season which has opened the door to new horizons.