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Glasgow Warriors are expecting Leicester Tigers to bite back as they chase a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals. - 18/01/2017 12:36
Glasgow Warriors are expecting Leicester Tigers to bite back as they chase a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Gregor Townsend’s men are chasing a best-runners up spot after a last-gasp 14-12 defeat to Munster saw the Irish province claim top-spot in Pool 1 with a round to spare. The Warriors know only a win will do against a Tigers side smarting from their 34-3 defeat at the hands of Racing 92.
Glasgow will be hoping to repeat their 42-13 triumph at Scotstoun in Round 1. The Scottish side are one of six teams who are jostling for position amongst the top eight clubs, as they chase a first appearance in the Champions Cup quarter-finals at Welford Road.
Aaron Mauger’s men have already taken the scalps of Racing 92 and Munster at home, and defence coach Matt Taylor is expecting a reaction from the two-time European champions.
He said: “We understand they are a very proud side with a very good record in this competition. We understand also they have not performed as well, particularly last week.
“We understand they are a very proud side with a very good record in this competition,” said Taylor of the two-times European champions. “We understand also they have not performed as well, particularly last week.
“They will come off the line hard and compete hard at the breakdown. They are highly motivated at home and that will give them an extra edge. They have won the cup two times and have been a very successful club for a long time.”
The heavy defeat in Paris ended Leicester’s slim hopes of qualifying for the last-eight, but they still have a part to play. And captain Tom Youngs has urged his side to finish their campaign on a high.
He said: “It is very important to finish well. Glasgow are coming to Welford Road and we have to sort it out and make sure we are a lot better in all areas.”
Glasgow Warriors stormed into the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals by inflicting a record defeat on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. - 21/01/2017 19:26
Glasgow Warriors stormed into the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals by inflicting a record defeat on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
The Tigers had never conceded more than five tries in a European match, but Gregor Townsend’s men racked up six scores to sail into the last-eight for the first time. The bonus-point was wrapped up before half-time after scores from Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Jonny Gray and a penalty try gave the Scots a 31-0 lead at half-time.
And it was more of the same after the break as Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson scored to put the cherry on a historic 43-0 triumph at Welford Road. Glasgow advance from Pool 1 as a best runner-up.
Glasgow got off to the perfect start in their bid to reach the last eight. They piled on the pressure from the off and were soon on the attack deep in Leicester territory. The Scotland wing picked up from the base of a ruck after the 27th phase and wrestled his way over to score. Russell converted give his side an early 7-0 lead.
The Scotland playmaker added a penalty moments later, before Matthew Tait was sin-binned for blocking the path of Lee Jones after the wing had chipped ahead. Glasgow went to the corner with the penalty and made their man advantage count immediately. The Warriors pack shunted the Tigers back and Marius Mitrea awarded a penalty try after judging the maul had been pulled down illegally.
It got even worse for the hosts when Russell broke in midfield. He was brought down but the ball was then sent wide to Bennett who crashed over at the corner. And the bonus-point was in the bag before half-time when Gray latched onto a Bennett offload to power over. Russell added the extras to make it 31-0 at the break.
Glasgow continued to assert their dominance after the break on their way to becoming the first Scottish side to win at Welford Road for over a century. Wilson pinched a Tigers’ lineout and charged downfield before being brought down. The Warriors recycled the ball before Wilson popped up again to crash over from close-range.
Leicester then allowed the Warriors to claim a record for all the wrong reasons. Swinson burrowed over from close range for the sixth try – a record number conceded by the Tigers in European competition.
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