Familiar feelings driving Glasgow towards Pro12 glory
Townsend’s Warriors could equal win record
SCARLETS coach Wayne Pivac stated after this comprehensive defeat that Glasgow are the side to beat in the Guinness Pro12 as the defending champions all but confirmed a place in the play-offs and set up the chance of home advantage.
It is all a long way from the draw at Ospreys in January, which left them in eighth place in the table, albeit with games in hand, and with a mountain to climb.
Eight successive wins later, they are approaching the summit with Italian strugglers Zebre at home in just under two weeks. As things stand, it looks like their final game in Connacht will be a straight shoot-out for a home semi-final with Leinster destined to claim the other home berth.
Pivac’s assessment was certainly one Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend and his players will be happy with as they chase a club record-equalling ninth win in a row next time out. Certainly, the feelings and form around the club right now are reminding them of last season’s imperious progress to the title.
“Winning back-to-back titles is obviously what motivates the players,” said Townsend. “We talked about the feeling of last year’s semi-final before the game and also the feeling after the final. That feeling is why you play the game.
“We have given ourselves the opportunity to be in a semi-final and we now have to work really hard to make sure it’s at home.”
This demolition of the team that started the weekend in fourth place would certainly have increased that confidence. The Scarlets had been hit hard by norovirus in the week, but that affected the margin of victory rather than the result.
Glasgow oozed confidence and 15 points from outside half Finn Russell in the first 25 minutes showed that such a key player is ready to lead the charge in the season’s final weeks.
The skill he showed regathering his own chip ahead with a full-length dive for the opening try proved that, as he prepares to recharge his batteries in Majorca this week as a long season draws towards the end.
“The start we got was brilliant,” said Russell. “We focused all week on getting a quick start out of the blocks like that.
“We knew there was a bit of space in behind, I had a good chat with the boys outside, they let me know it was on and it was well-executed I guess.
“We have a week off, I’m going to try and get away to Majorca and then come back for the Zebre game which will be tough and build from that to Connacht away to try and get a home semi-final. We are peaking at the right time with eight wins in a row. The momentum is building.”
Russell scored two tries, a tally matched by left wing Lee Jones, who finished off breaks by Russell and half-back partner Henry Pyrgos. The scrum half also scored a try, along with Mark Bennett and Tommy Seymour.
The Scarlets flagged as the game went on, but Glasgow are in form and firing on all cylinders. Everyone, including Zebre, will expect that to be another bonus point romp, so it will all come down to that final trip to Connacht. Scarlets coach Pivac will not be the only one expecting Glasgow to go all the way once again.