Gregor wants better all-round

GLASGOW head coach Gregor Townsend will this week seek improvements in his side’s attack and defence despite claiming a second bonus-point win in two weeks.

The 33-25 victory followed a 41-5 humbling of Connacht, but Townsend is acutely aware that it did not look so good when Leinster led 22-12 early in the second period after a first-half display that will only please next week’s opponents Cardiff.

‘It was a great reaction in the second half,’ he said. ‘We came up against a very good team who were able to produce really quick ball and get a number of line-breaks and, really, we should have been further behind at half-time.

‘We weren’t on our game defensively in the first half. When we got ball, which wasn’t that often, we looked dangerous, but I’m delighted we got through — thanks to Tommy. In the second half we looked a lot more solid and compared to how we defended in the first half there was a massive improvement.’

He praised the form of Tommy Seymour, who now has six tries in two games and pointed out aspects of his defence and fitness as impressive alongside his finishing.

Scotstoun’s new artificial pitch also seemed to bring an alacrity to both side’s attack, which perhaps caught out defences, but it will be same again when Glasgow head to the league’s only other artificial pitch, and the impressive Cardiff Blues, on Saturday.

‘This was a marker for us as coaches,’ he added.’ We have a lot more work to do. Next week we’re also playing an unbeaten team and if we play like we did in the first 40 minutes it’s going to be tough for us, but that’s why we come back into training on Monday and we’ll get on with the work in defence and attack for next week.’

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: ‘For some of these young guys it’s a tough experience but they’ll be better for it.

‘To come away with no points after scoring three tries in the first half is bitterly disappointing, but we need to be a little bit more accurate.’