Seymour looks for World Cup boost

Glasgow winger Tommy Seymour believes that the squad’s World Cup experience can help them achieve a European breakthrough.

Warriors begin their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign against Racing 92 in Paris today determined to get off to a good start in their quest to make the knockout stages for the first time.

Twelve of Glasgow’s starting line-up played at the recent World Cup, including Seymour, and the Scotland international will take fresh confidence from his experience.

“Playing on a stage like that undoubtedly brings confidence to people on what they do on the big stage,” Seymour said.

“It gives you an appreciation for matches that have a high-intensity level,” he said.

“Guys with that experience can certainly appreciate the European competition a bit better and hopefully that confidence can eke into this.”

Warriors beat Bath and Montpellier in their opening two group games last season but ultimately missed out on qualification.

And the Guinness Pro12 champions know they need to be more clinical this season.

“It’s something we have made one of our major goals to get through,” Seymour said. “It’s something to date we haven’t been able to do and there’s a lot of soreness that we haven’t accomplished that yet.

“We came close last year but the two back-to-back ties against Toulouse lost us momentum after two good performances. We let our standards slip, especially at home, we were too embroiled in their game rather than ours.”

Seymour switches to the right wing with Sean Lamont returning on the left while Ryan Grant comes in for Gordon Reid in the only change to the front row.

Rob Harley and Simone Favaro come into the back row.

Georgia international hooker Shalva Mamukashvili could make his debut from the bench, while Scotland secondrow Tim Swinson returns from injury to join the replacements.

Picture: SNS. Tommy Seymour thinks Glasgow will benefit from the recent World Cup experience of its players.