Warriors ready for step up in class but have wind in sails for trip to Exeter
Glasgow Warriors will make the journey to Sandy Park next Saturday for their Champions Cup pool match against Exeter Chiefs with wind in their sails after securing a fine bonus-point win at home to Ospreys this weekend.
The 38-19 victory was particularly impressive because it was their first outing in three weeks due to a Covid outbreak in the squad during the festive season. they know that they face a step up in class next weekend, but Warriors winger kyle steyn says that he andhisteam-mateswilldraw confidence from having toppled the English giants when the two sides met at scots toun three weeks ago.
“It’s obviously been a disruptedperiod for us these last couple of weeks, but there was a lot of emphasis against the Ospreys on trying to build on what we did against Exeter in our last game before the layoff,” he said. “The fact there wasn’t any fans there, as well, made it a bit different. But I think we did well to adapt, and it was a good win for us in the end. we got some decent time with ball in hand, and also had to make some important defensive sets, so it was a good workout for us before Exeter. They’re at home and they will be hungry to put things right. For us, it’s just about taking the belief out of the previous game."
A defeat next week at Exeter would not be a disaster for Warriors, but it would prick the bubble of belief which has grown around the squad recently, and also pile pressureonto the following weekend’ s visit of La Rochelle– which would become a must win match in terms of qualifying for the knock-out phase of the Champions Cup.
Si one tui pu lotuw as named man-of-the-match on Saturday for an all-action display in which the highlights were two well-taken tries, and Steynwasfu ll of praise for the impact the Australian-born, Scots-capped centre has had since joining the club in the summer.
“He’s such a great bloke – he’s fitted in seamlessly and is making a great impact,” said Steyn. “He talks a lot of rubbish sometimes which gets the boys giggling. We make sure that he know she’ s talking rubbish… but we all know the attributes he has as a player. He’ s pretty much got the complete game .”