John Barclay’s early season perception that Glasgow Warriors may win the Investec European Champions Cup has been tempered by accidents to key gamers and the lack of unfastened ahead Henco Venter, which has loaded the cube closely in opposition to the Scottish outfit because the put together for the hardest membership problem in world rugby by going through Leinster, the 4 occasions champions, within the quarter finals on the Aviva Stadium.
Glasgow sit in second place behind Leinster within the URC desk and thumped Leicester, 43-19, nonetheless, Venter picked up a six recreation ban for making contact with the eyes of England prop Dan Cole and Warriors will badly miss his ball carrying and work charge. The return of Scotland co-captain Rory Darge is of some consolation for Glasgow’s travelling followers who will head to Dublin extra in hope than expectation.
Not even the return of Scotland centre Huw Jones, who has been struggling with the results of a head knock and an ankle drawback, may tip the scales in Glasgow’s favour and Barclay, the previous Scotland captain, admits the lack of Sione Tuipulotu, after he suffered a ripped pectoral muscle in January, has been a large blow for membership and nation.
He said: “Playing Leinster away is the toughest challenge you could face, particularly with their strength in depth. I know people say it is like playing the Ireland nationwide staff, however they’ve added the world-class skills of Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman to their squad, so you’re taking on 23 excellent gamers.
“Once I mentioned (on X) that Glasgow would win the Champions Cup, I feel I had a few purple wines and I wish to wind folks up and there was little bit of that concerned. They’re now lacking just a few gamers, and in addition to Leinster, there’s additionally Toulouse and Bordeaux to consider. The problem for Glasgow is monumental in opposition to Leinster, and everyone seems to be writing them off, which isn’t a foul place to be, and it will be one in every of their largest wins ever – up there with beating the Bulls within the URC last.
“Franco Smith ( the pinnacle coach) has executed a fantastic job in bettering the depth of the squad, however they’ve been with out six or seven gamers together with Sione Tuipulotu who was one of many type gamers within the Northern Hemisphere after the Autumn exams. Glasgow miss the stability that Sione brings to midfield, and his partnership with Huw Jones is a possible Lions one in Australia and one to get enthusiastic about.
“Sione has are available in and really shortly established himself as a world-class operator. No different participant in Scotland can play the best way he does, and Scotland and Glasgow miss him. Sione is a type of gamers who can do all of it and in opposition to the very best defences, a participant who can carry and distribute like he does and defend- the total field of methods. I hear he’s near getting back from his harm, and there’s nonetheless loads of rugby for him to show he needs to be happening the Lions tour. “
On condition that Leinster thrashed Harlequins 62-0 final weekend and have reached the final three finals – dropping to French groups – is it price Glasgow turning up? “Fairly merely, they must be at their very, best possible as a result of Leinster not solely dominate how the sport is performed however the place it’s performed,” added Barclay. “They decide your complete extent of the sport, and I keep in mind taking part in in opposition to them for Scarlets a variety of years in the past and got here off the pitch effectively crushed and considering that we hadn’t executed rather a lot flawed, however we couldn’t management something within the recreation. They’re masters at how the sport is performed, and the place they tactically and territorially put you is implausible.
“Glasgow must assault and discover a strategy to take care of that actually heavy blitz defence and the hazard is getting caught behind the achieve line time and time once more. Franco could be very astute at getting ready his staff and the way he analyses the opposition. It’s about how they handle the complexity of the Leinster assault after which pin them again and be very aggressive competing on the ground.
“As we noticed in opposition to the All Blacks and Wallabies, Eire got a tough time on the breakdown with that space made very scrappy – make it as a lot of a large number legally as potential – that’s one thing they must do. If you happen to simply let Leinster play and attempt to maintain them you will have virtually obtained no probability. A extremely aggressive mindset across the break down and being correct is essential, and Rory Darge beginning can be an enormous a part of that.”
This is another opportunity for Darge to put his hand up for Lions selection, although Barclay acknowledges head coach Andy Farrell is spoilt for choice when it comes to ball-winning back row options to take on the Wallabies in the three-test series. “Rory is in the conversation, and there is great quality available and as Sam Warburton pointed out, someone from Rory, Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and the Currys goes to overlook out this time.
“This sort of recreation in opposition to Leinster in all probability carries extra weight by way of the Lions alternatives and for those who go over to the Aviva as huge underdogs in opposition to Leinster staff that’s going to type a big chunk of that tour squad in Australia and entrance up, then that’s the form of factor folks will discover. “
The set-piece battle in opposition to Leinster may also be key, and though he may very well be accused of Scottish bias, Barclay is satisfied Zander Fagerson, the Scotland and Glasgow tight head, needs to be in Australia together with his spectacular engine, permitting him to make important contributions across the pitch in addition to within the tight. He defined: “ Zander might be the one tighthead prop within the Six Nations who performs as many minutes as he does and at such a constant stage. There may be an expectation that he’ll ship time and time once more. I feel he’s a implausible participant, and his work charge across the park units him aside. Typically, you’re speaking about him taking part in for 70-75 minutes each match, which is massively spectacular.
“I feel, feasibly, the entire beginning Scotland backline may go on the Lions tour, and I anticipate Zander and Pierre Schoeman to go along with presumably Jamie Ritchie, and that might be a extremely robust Scottish illustration. I do know folks will level to the place Scotland completed within the Six Nations desk, however for those who take these gamers and put them in a Lions jersey, that may be a actually thrilling prospect.”
John Barclay is a part of the Premier Sports activities staff displaying each recreation reside within the Investec Champions Cup, together with Glasgow Warriors’ huge quarter-final contest in opposition to Leinster on Friday (Premier Sports activities 1 from 7pm). Be a part of the house of rugby for simply £11.99 a month. Go to www.premiersports.television
