Glasgow face the toughest test of their lives today

EDINBURGH’S hopes of salvaging something from a disappointing season went up in smoke at Murrayfield on Friday night, as La Rochelle put them to the sword by dismantling the home team in the first half.

Bonus points were irrelevant in this quarter-final tie. But had they been, La Rochelle could have packed up and gone home at half-time, their four tries exposing many of Edinburgh’s frailties.

To their credit, Edinburgh fought back to give the crowd, relocated from Myreside where they wouldn’t have filled the Watsonian ground, something to cheer about.

But the damage had been done and it was only a question of playing for pride, something Hamish Watson did and he will have given his Lions chances a boost.

This leaves Glasgow flying the Scottish flag in European rugby and they will face the toughest test of their lives today when they travel to Alliance Park to face Saracens, who are currently flying high.

Saracens took Bath apart last weekend in their Premiership and they are a side full of international class.

The match will set Finn Russell against Owen Farrell in a near re-match of the encounter between Scotland and England at Twickenham.

The Glasgow Warriors who were involved in that match should still be hurting from the disappointing display so they now have the opportunity to set the record straight.

Yet, as in the Calcutta Cup encounter, Saracens seem to have more fire-power to call on from their full squad than the Scots.

Glasgow’s greatest challenge may be to stop the Vunipola brothers, whose strong ball-carrying can hurt any team. But on the fast surface at Allianz Park, the threat will not only be from the Saracens pack.

They have a back line bristling with talent so the scale of Glasgow’s task cannot be underestimated.

The surface will also suit Glasgow’s style, which is to play a fast game with a lot of continuity and off-loading.

Glasgow have often saved their best rugby of the season until the springtime, when their internationals return and the warmer weather suits a fast, open game.

Today’s match should be a thrilling encounter in that regard although Saracens will start as firm favourites.

Glasgow have enough of their own talent to trouble Saracens if they can control the ball for reasonably periods of time.

The battle of the backrows will be intriguing and Glasgow will need a solid base at the scrum to bring their breakaways into the game.

Gregor Townsend will have been focusing on this match for some time – European glories having eluded Glasgow for years.

Saracens may be favourites, but they discount Glasgow at their peril.