MUNSTER TASK
Swinson says Glasgow must up their game for grudge match with Irish
GLASGOW Warriors star Tim Swinson is bracing himself for a grudge match against Munster at Scotstoun on Friday night when the rivals battle it out for top spot.
After Saturday’s victory at Cardiff Arms Park saw Dave Rennie’s men match the Irish side’s perfect record of three wins from three games in Conference A of the Pro14, Scotland lock Swinson admitted there is ‘no love lost’ between them.
Certainly, no one in the Glasgow camp has forgotten that Munster won all four meetings last season.
‘We were able to watch their game at the Ospreys before we played the Blues and, although the weather dictated it a bit, Munster showed they had some good things,’ said the 30-year-old, who was delighted to mark his 100th appearance for the Warriors with victory.
‘You’d expect that from one of the top sides in Europe. We are under no illusions that they are a very good team with a very good pack of forwards.
‘We had a lot of good competition with them last year and they were very physical and combative games. I don’t think there is any love lost between the two sides after last year.
‘We are two teams who have our eyes on being the best in the league and in Europe. We are both really demanding of ourselves and want to put pressure on other teams.
‘Unfortunately, there is another team on the pitch who want to stop you doing that. That showed in our games last year, when we were both really on the edge of wanting to physically put ourselves on the pitch.’
Swinson also reached a century of games for Newcastle Falcons earlier in his career, although that celebration turned sour with a home loss to Worcester Warriors.
This time there was at least a victory to mark the occasion, but the 32-times capped Scot admitted the visitors got out of jail when Cardiff’s Steve Shingler missed a 35-metre penalty 90 seconds from time having hit the target with each of his previous five kicks.
‘It was nice to get a win on my 100th appearance this time because it didn’t happen at the Falcons,’ recalled Swinson.
‘I guess the key to victory this time was them missing the kick in the last minute, although we stuck in there. We scored two fantastic tries with some great counter attacking from our backs and worked together as a team.
‘But in the first three weeks of the season, we haven’t shown what we are really capable of. There has been the odd flash here and there, but we haven’t shown it for any period of time.
‘Once we get to spend more time together we will improve and that will allow us to take the next step towards playing better all-round rugby.’
The Blues raced into a ten-point lead with a try from Tom James and a conversion and penalty from Shingler. They were still 13-10 ahead at the break despite conceding a well-worked, blindside try to Henry Pyrgos. The superb Finn Russell kicked a penalty and converted the try.
Shingler’s third penalty of the night early in the second half extended the home lead. But a minute later, Russell set up Lee Jones for a try that the Scottish international then converted.
Shingler kicked his fourth penalty to make it 19-17 and it looked as if the Blues were on their way to a first win of the season.
But Irish referee Frank Murphy then awarded Glasgow their first scrum penalty of the night and Russell hoisted his side back in front with 12 minutes to play.
Another scrum penalty, this time for the Blues, gave Shingler his shot at glory, but he shanked his kick horribly wide.
‘We are going to have to tidy up our set-piece,’ admitted Rennie. ‘We’ll get asked some serious questions by Munster. They are going to barrel up with their big men and bring a lot of line speed.’