Sean Lineen, the Glasgow head coach, has told his players they must keep their cool in the crucial final stages of big matches, or they will face another campaign of frustration and disappointment.
Sean Lineen, the Glasgow head coach, has told his players they must keep their cool in the crucial final stages of big matches, or they will face another campaign of frustration and disappointment.
The Warriors will look to get back to winning ways and kickstart their season in their Magners League meeting with Llanelli Scarlets at Firhill tomorrow, following defeats by Ospreys and Connacht. However, Lineen believes his players will only make life more difficult for themselves if they do not retain their composure.
He explained: "Losing the last two games has been very, very frustrating, but the most disturbing element has been the way we have performed late on. It was the same last season and we are still letting ourselves get frustrated in terms of discipline when it matters most.
"We are not the dirtiest team in the league - nor are we the most streetwise - but we have done some really stupid things recently and ended up having a man yellow-carded.
"We need to keep 15 guys on the pitch at every point in the match - and we need to stop taking our foot off the gas.
"The opposition can see what is happening and they take the opportunity to get on top. They take over the momentum and when that happens you often get the referee on your side. That is what happened at Galway last weekend, and Connacht played the ref very well."
Lineen, meanwhile, has been forced to delay revealing his starting line-up for the Scarlets match to give playmaker Dan Parks as long as possible to recover from heavy bruising to his leg. He is also waiting for fitness updates on two other backs who have been suffering from flu symptoms.
Lineen shrugged off the possible absence of Parks, who is due a strong display following shaky performances against Ospreys and Connacht.
Lineen said: "We have Colin Gregor ready to fill the slot if necessary. He has done the business for us in the past and I have every confidence he would so again if called upon."
Llanelli are without the injured Deacon Manu, Dafydd James, Mahonri Schwalger, Darren Daniels and Kees Meeuws, but Kiwi centre Regan King is back after a strong half in Edinburgh which followed three games out. In addition, stand-off and captain Stephen Jones is included, having recovered from a knock to the knee he sustained at Murrayfield.
Glasgow (from): M Evans, T Evans, L Fa'atau, C Gregor, A Henderson, R Jackson, M McMillan, G Morrison, H O'Hare, D Parks, B Stortoni; J Va'a, D Hall, M Low, O Palepoi, A Kellock (capt), K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie Llanelli Scarlets C Thomas; M Jones, R King, G Evans, M Stoddart; S Jones (capt), M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, P John, L Reed, S MacLeod, D Jones, D Lyons, G Thomas. Subs A Hopkins, K Owens, V Cooper, N Thomas, S Martens, R Higgitt, J Davies
