We need to keep focus on winning, insists Pyrgos
GLASGOW Warriors co-captain Henry Pyrgos and his team-mates checked into their hotel in Limerick last night only too aware they had arrived in a city in mourning.
From the book of condolence in the lobby to the pictures of Anthony Foley on every Irish newspaper’s front page, the sudden death of the Munster head coach has cast a giant shadow over tomorrow’s European Champions Cup match at Thomond Park.
With Foley’s funeral Mass taking place at St Flannan’s Church in Killaloe at noon today and the gates of the stadium already a shrine to his memory, the match will be an emotionally-charged occasion.
Both sides have put back naming their respective teams until 3pm today to allow the city and the Irish rugby community to mourn properly before attempts are made to focus minds, as best they can be, on the rugby.
Pyrgos and his Warriors colleagues will take part in a minute’s silence in honour of Foley but, from kickoff, he will try to make sure they concentrate totally on the game.
The scrum-half knows only a totally professional approach, regardless of the emotion of the occasion, will keep Glasgow’s qualification campaign on track following their opening win over Leicester Tigers.
‘I can’t imagine what they’re going through but we’re still expecting the Munster team to come out and give the best possible performance they can,’ said Pyrgos.
‘We know if they do that, we’re going to have to put in one of our best performances to go and win the game. That’s what we’ve been preparing for, so we have to keep our concentration regardless of what’s going on around us.
‘I’ve never experienced something like this before but I could maybe compare it to other big games I’ve been involved in, like internationals. I’m not saying it’s the same, but it’s a huge game and, as players, all we can do is focus on our individual jobs after we pay our respects.
‘The guys know what’s at stake and that we all have to play our part. The senior players have to step up to the mark, not just me and Jonny (Gray) as co-captains. This game is going to be a real challenge but we’re in a good place, I think.’
After so many false dawns with Glasgow in Europe, the Scotland international doesn’t want to look too far ahead or make bold predictions about qualifying from their group — even after the sensational bonus-point win over the English giants in their opening fixture at Scotstoun last Friday.
After tomorrow’s match with the two-time champions, they have back-to-back matches against a Dan Carter-inspired Racing 92 in December.
Gregor Townsend’s men can’t afford any slip-ups or their European dream will be over by Christmas again.
‘There’s no margin for error in Europe, which is why we have to get things right against Munster,’ said Pyrgos. ‘The standard in the Champions Cup is incredibly high and you can’t be off your game for a second.
‘For example, in the Guinness Pro12, sometimes you make errors, you make poor decisions, but you don’t get punished for them.
‘In Europe, you get punished. If you give cheap penalties away, then goal kickers are going to kick them over in Europe.
‘If the opposition decide to kick to the corner, they will have a plan for a driving lineout to score a try — and most of the time, they will succeed.
‘Simple mistakes turn into seven points more often than not. That’s why we need to put in a top-class 80-minute performance to win games like Saturday’s if we want to qualify from our group.
‘In Europe, if you lose one or two games, that’s you struggling. We haven’t done that this year and it was great to put in a really good performance against a quality team like Leicester and come to Limerick with one win from one game.
‘But one performance isn’t good enough. We need to back that up week on week and in all of our six European pool games. We haven’t qualified in the past because we haven’t done that.
‘We’ve had good results here and there, but we haven’t done it consistently. This is the year we have to win on a regular basis.’
In a prepared statement released by Munster yesterday, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus admitted the tragic circumstances of the last few days have made the game very difficult for the team.
He stated: ‘One’s life is greater than any sport or sporting occasion. However, Thomond Park held a special place in Axel’s heart and, as difficult as it will be to play the next game, no matter the time, opposition or venue, we have an opportunity to play there this Saturday. That is something that is hugely important to all of us and cannot be easily dismissed.
‘Playing in Thomond Park further ties us to his memory and will be a chance for all, including our supporters and the community, to feel that connection and closeness to him at this time.’ Thousands of Munster supporters paid tribute to Foley yesterday at his funeral removal in his home town of Killaloe.
The previous night, fans had lined the streets of Limerick as his remains were repatriated to Ireland from Paris and driven through the city.
The hearse stopped outside Thomond Park as supporters clad in the red of Munster and the black and blue of Shannon sang the club anthem There is an Isle.
There was also a touching moment as the vehicle stopped outside Foley’s old school, St Munchin’s, where he had first blossomed on the rugby field as a skilled No8.