Glasgow must learn to strike while iron’s hot
IT doesn’t look like it judging purely from the final scoreline, but there was a point yesterday when the game was there for the taking for Glasgow Warriors. They were 13-10 ahead at half-time and, given the level of control they showed during the opening period, they had the game in the palm of their hand.
Not many visiting teams can say that at Sandy Park, which has become a real fortress for Exeter Chiefs over the past few years.
But Glasgow just fell apart in the second half — and it brought back memories of last season’s quarter-final defeat to Saracens at Allianz Park.
On that particular occasion, they shipped 34 points in the second half in a game which Sarries went on to win 56-27.
The final scoreline yesterday wasn’t quite so brutal — but the second period ended up being just as much of a demolition job, with Exeter winning it 24-5.
From Glasgow’s point of view, that’s a capitulation. They don’t seem to have learned and they don’t look any further forward in Europe now than they were six months ago.
There was a naivety to their play after the break yesterday. They started chasing the game far too early when they were the ones who were in front and in a position to dictate the tempo.
It was needless. In one of the first plays of the second half, they were throwing the ball around looking for the Hollywood pass inside their own 22.
What they should have been doing is continuing what brought them success in the first half – putting their foot through the ball, kicking for touch, and playing for territory and possession.
They lost control and a key part of that comes down to the halfback pairing of George Horne and Adam Hastings.
The pair of them excel when they are operating with front-foot, attacking ball. But, in these tight European games, the top teams rely on their half-backs to manoeuvre them around the pitch.
It requires a different kind of skillset and Horne and Hastings will have come off the pitch last night knowing they still have a lot to learn at the top level.
Glasgow’s forwards were really impressive in the first 40 minutes. But they stopped looking after the ball and began to invite pressure from Exeter.
On the evidence of the second half and the way their pack was able to go through the gears, this could be the year that Exeter finally make a dent in Europe.
Their record over recent seasons doesn’t marry up to their domestic success. They’ve reached the last four Premiership finals in a row, yet their record in the Champions Cup is pretty lousy.
It’s frustrating because I don’t actually think Glasgow are a million miles away from competing with these top English and French teams.
You have to be realistic and view it in context. They are operating on a vastly inferior budget compared to clubs from those countries and are punching above their weight.
When the Warriors did have a real X Factor player in Stuart Hogg, they simply haven’t replaced him like-for-like because they don’t have the money to do so.
Compare that to Exeter, who have a backline with the likes of Hogg, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell – and a forward pack with some almighty firepower.
You also have to wonder just what sort of impact Rennie’s departure has had on the Glasgow players, with it being confirmed earlier this week that he’ll leave at the end of the season to take the Australia job.
It’ll have been a tough week for them. You always want stability as a player, so it must have been destabilising to know they’re losing a coach who they all respect and enjoy working with.
Rennie’s key task now will be to re-energise his players and lift their spirits ahead of the meeting with Leinster in the Pro14 next weekend.
Then comes a pivotal European double-header with La Rochelle in December — before two games against Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup over Christmas.
Defeat yesterday will be sore. But, if Glasgow have aspirations of winning a trophy to give Rennie a triumphant send-off, they can’t wallow in self-pity.
The big games are now coming thick and fast and the next four or five weeks could well define their season.