The real Finn MUST stand up tonight
IT’S been a strange old season for Glasgow Warriors. They came flying out of the blocks, winning their first ten Guinness Pro14 league games, which almost guaranteed them a semi-final berth by Christmas.
They were in a very tough Champions Cup group with the English champions Exeter, the leaders of the French Top 14 Montpellier and the eventual winners Leinster.
One win out of six was not great, albeit the best they probably could have expected was winning all three home games.
But when they dropped back into the Pro14 they kept ploughing on, winning games and securing a home semi-final with weeks and many games to spare.
Ensuring the semi-final was to be played at Scotstoun was essential for two reasons. First, all but one semi-final in the history of the Pro12 or 14 has been won by the home team, so it clearly is an advantage. Secondly, Glasgow are a different team at home and have played their best rugby there.
Their league record at Scotstoun is astonishing. Ten wins from ten but, more impressively, 49 points out of 50. This means that, in nine of these games, Glasgow have won by scoring four tries or more — which proves how effective they are and how important it is that the game tonight is taking place in the west end of Glasgow.
All teams enjoy playing at home for all the comforts it brings and the advantage of having the majority of the support behind you. The stadium capacity has been increased to 10,000 for tonight, which will only help to make the atmosphere even better and could make the difference.
Glasgow also like playing at Scotstoun for the surface. It suits their game. The consistency of the 4G surface allows a very high-tempo match with lots of off-loads, which brings out the best in the home players. Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell and maybe, in particular, George Horne play so well on this surface. They love it and they get excited about putting on a show at Scotstoun.
So, all positive so far for Glasgow Warriors. They are playing at home where they’ve had huge success in the league so far this season.
The trouble is, they are playing the Scarlets. They also love playing a high-tempo game, so will love playing on the Scotstoun carpet; they have big-time players who have excelled at the highest level and they were the only team to win an away semi-final when they beat Leinster at the Aviva last season. That dents the confidence levels for Glasgow a bit, doesn’t it?
The key to the play-offs is going in with momentum and this is where both teams are struggling a bit.
Last season, Scarlets timed their run to the finish perfectly, playing brilliant rugby in the last few games of the regular season, which got better in the semi-final and then allowed them to blow Munster away in the final. They became an unstoppable force and were worthy champions.
They still have the potential and ability to play that kind of rugby again but they don’t have the same momentum. They had a very sobering experience in the semi-final of the Champions Cup when they were battered by Leinster, conceding over 40 points. So, like Glasgow, they need to find their game quickly tonight.
Glasgow haven’t played for three weeks which will have been good for them as they weren’t playing well at the end of the season. They will have used this time to rest the players but also to get them hungry to go out there and perform.
It will be huge occasion for Russell, who plays his last match for Glasgow at Scotstoun. He is a key player and it would be fitting if he could bring his A game and inspire his team to make the final.
We know he has the ability; the key is to keep the head, not try too much to make an impact, but allow his natural game to flow and bring out the best in the players around him.
I heard him on a podcast this week sounding very relaxed and excited about this game but also focused on his job and what needs to be done. When Finn’s in that sort of mood, he is magic, a game-changer, and everyone at Scotstoun will be hoping we see
that Finn one last time at home this evening.