Pack tweaks give Rennie key to Euro knockouts
Glasgow warriors head coach Dave Rennie has proved to be a quick learner. as far as his side’s European campaign is concerned, it’s just as well.
last season’s dispiriting experience was certainly not what Rennie or the glasgow faithful had been expecting.
Yet this time out, performances and results have been far more positive. The victory over lyon on saturday was the first time glasgow have won three consecutive Heineken Cup matches in a single season.
Maximum points at home to Cardiff Blues and away to saracens in their remaining two games and glasgow could go through to the knockout stage as winners of Pool 3.
If you say it quickly, it sounds straightforward.
saracens away will be a monumental task, obviously, but even if glasgow fall short they could still go through as one of the three second-placed teams with the most points.
The reason for the turnaround in European fortunes comes down to the way Rennie realised after his first foray into Europe that his forward pack had to be more physical.
who could forget the way Exeter Chiefs’ superior forward power told in the loose and the scrum as glasgow lost 24-15 away to them last season? or how leinster adopted a similar forward driven game at scotstoun that allowed prop Cian Healy to score two tries in their 34-18 win over the warriors?
Montpellier also bossed them up front, awarded a penalty try after the glasgow pack crumbled in their 29-22 win in scotland.
learning from that chastening experience, he made improving the pack his No1 priority.
It was why he was so angry when the lack of physicality showed up again in their opening 13-3 European home defeat to saracens. Too many players dropped off tackles or were bullied by the opposition.
Rennie worked hard on his players after that loss. subsequent European wins over Cardiff Blues away and back-to-back victories over lyon showed they have taken his instructions on board.
The pack laid the foundation for all three wins, and Rennie has kept his pack fresh by mixing things up game-by-game in Europe.
adam ashe, who was man of the match with two tries in lyon, didn’t even make the matchday squad for the return fixture at the weekend.
Co-captain Ryan wilson, who didn’t travel to France, took ashe’s place at scotstoun and played superbly.
The atrocious winter conditions at home against lyon meant glasgow were forced to take part in the kind of arm wrestle you see all the time in the French league. It suited lyon more than the hosts, but Rennie now has his players perfectly able to cope with such attritional games.
It wasn’t pretty on the eye and glasgow failed to get a winning bonus point, which may prove costly in the long-term, but the victory keeps them on track for qualification.
with the likes of full-back stuart Hogg and wingers Tommy seymour and Niko Matawalu, who scored both of glasgow’s tries against lyon, they have the flair to win any game.
These players need to get enough good ball, which is why the forwards hold the key for future glasgow success in Europe by giving the backs the platform they need to show their magic.
If the pack get things right and continue to show they can stand toe-to-toe with the big boys of Europe, then Rennie’s warriors can deliver a knockout blow against any side they face.