Can Warriors scale new heights against Leinster?
Now Glasgow aim to reach a new high in Pro12 Final
GLASGOW WARRIORS have two full weeks to recover, regroup and refocus ahead of their first ever RaboDirect Pro12 grand final appearance — and they are going to need every second of that time to prepare for the mighty challenge which awaits them. We are, after all, now entering uncharted territory.
Friday night’s nail-biting semi-final victory over Munster at Scotstoun was a brutal test of Glasgow’s physical resilience. The hits were huge and relentless on both sides. In the first half alone, Munster’s Casey Laulala and Felix Jones, along with Ryan Grant and Josh Strauss of Glasgow, all had to retire from the match due to injury. By the end, replacement winger Sean Lamont had been pressed into action in the back-row because Gregor Townsend had run out of fit forwards.
In the circumstances, it is remarkable that Warriors coach Townsend was able to report after the game that he has no significant new injury concerns — just plenty of badly bumped and bruised bodies which will need a few days of recuperation.
A bigger concern is the psychological and emotional toll of that 16-15 victory. The tension at times was unbearable and not just because the match was so tight. Glasgow were bidding to achieve something that no other Scottish side has managed before — and they were carrying the hopes of not only a city but a whole nation on their shoulders.
For decades now, Scotland has had to meekly accept the role as the poor cousins of Celtic rugby, and this was a chance to banish that reputation. It took real steel to achieve that goal against a side which has achieved so much so many times in the past.
The air-punching and back-slapping at the end was entirely understandable, as were the impassioned speeches to the full-house crowd from Townsend and inspirational captain Al Kellock.
This was a day to celebrate being involved in Scottish rugby — something we have been able to do far too rarely in the past.
But, once the dust had settled and the enormity of the task which still lies ahead came into full focus, minds might start to wonder if that match could end up being the team’s Everest.
We just don’t know how hard it will be for Glasgow to get their crampons back on and start climbing towards an even higher summit.
Kellock spoke eloquently before the
semi-final about how his side’s three previous defeats at that stage had helped them become a team capable of winning this time round. Does the same logic hold true now that they have moved on to the next level against opposition which already has cup final experience?
If the Warriors are to go all the way, it will require cool heads and clear minds in the key decision-making positions. With that in mind, Townsend has international experience in the shape of Ruaridh Jackson and Duncan Weir which he can call on to fill the crucial stand-off role, but it is more than likely that he will stick with the man who wore the No 10 jersey on Friday — who also happens to be the third-youngest and most inexperienced member of the starting XV.
Less than two months ago, Finn Russell was running out for club side Ayr in the mainly amateur RBS Premiership. It takes a fair bit of nerve to go from there to playing with such composure and authority in a match of the intensity we witnessed at Scotstoun.
Russell missed his first (long-range) kick at goal, but his equanimity never wavered, and he went on to kick three vital penalties in the first half to give his team the most slender of leads at the break. His touchline conversion of Gordon Reid’s try after 46 minutes was immense — and ultimately the difference between the two teams.
‘He’s very composed,’ agreed Townsend. ‘He’s exceeded all our expectations in terms of being able to start for us in big games, and now a semi-final and going up against one of the top four teams in Europe this season. Nailing those kicks to control the game was great.
‘If you put him in that environment, where there is a game going on, then he comes out his shell. He talks a lot more than he would do at training or team meetings, you hear him organising the forwards — he loves that environment.’
Russell was exhausted as he spoke after the match, but looking at the sly smile on his face you suspected that he could have managed another 80 minutes of full combat if it had been required.
‘I’m pretty chilled out with this. Every game is the same no matter what. I try not to think about the situation, but the game ahead,’ he shrugged, before admitting that when he does take time to think about it then his new status as the heir apparent as Scotland’s No 10 does feel a little surreal.
‘Especially to come from playing for Ayr against Gala a few weeks ago to winning the semi-final of the Rabo — it’s hard to believe.
‘My aims at the start of the year were probably to get some game time while they (Weir and Jackson) were away with Scotland, so it’s just brilliant to get as many games as I have.’
The precociousness of youth means that there is no danger of this player resting on his laurels in two weeks’ time. The 21-year-old is enjoying the ride too much to jump off now.
‘Every game you think about winning, not losing,’ he said. ‘That’s nine games in a row we’ve won, so we’ve got real momentum going into the final now. We definitely believe we can win it. It’s not going to be easy but there’s a positive energy in the camp.’
The Scotland squad for the summer tour of USA, Canada, Argentina and South Africa is named on Tuesday. Russell must be a stick-on to make that trip.