Stress rehearsal will help prepare Gregor for big time
NOTHING in his playing or coaching career can prepare Gregor Townsend for the intensity of his next job as Scotland head coach. However, in terms of experiences, this week might come pretty close. When Townsend takes Glasgow to face Saracens in a European Champions Cup quarter-final on Sunday, he’ll be pitting his Warriors against top-level opposition with absolutely everything on the line. This is bigger even than the Pro12 title they claimed in such style. More prestigious, more important and, with this season’s league play-offs looking a little distant, more definitive. The entire season may be decided in 80 minutes at Allianz Park. Although Edinburgh are also in European action this week, with their Challenge Cup quarterfinal at home to La Rochelle on Friday bound to generate excitement, the eyes of the nation are inevitably drawn more to the Warriors. The reason? Because, when we look at Glasgow, we see the Scotland team. Not just in a starting XV crammed to the gunnels with current international regulars — but in a coaching box boasting the next gaffer and his right-hand man. Scotland’s recent revival has been built in large part on the work done by Townsend and his staff. The Warriors’ performance against Connacht on Saturday, with those international players returned to the fold, reminded us of just how devastating they can be. Should Townsend take his club into the last four of Europe’s premier club competition, we’ll all feel less troubled by the SRU’s decision to let Vern Cotter leave just when he was getting to grips with the top job.