GLASGOW Warriors coach Gregor Townsend is looking forward to what he has called the ultimate challenge - a Champions Cup quarter-final away to holders Saracens.
It is the toughest possible fixture for Townsend’s team, who reached the last eight for the first time with a sensational 43-0 victory over Leicester on Saturday. But, having also seen his team beat 2016 runners-up Racing 92 both home and away in Europe this season, the coach is confident that on their day they can beat any opponent.
“I thought that before [Saturday] as well,” Townsend said. “We’ve got to have that mindset.
“Saracens have been the best team in Europe over the past couple of years. To take them on is the ultimate and we can’t wait to start preparing for that game. It’s two months away, but it will be in the back of our minds as coaches.
“They’re a great side - very hard to beat. They haven't lost a game in Europe in the past two seasons.
“We just have to go down there and throw everything at them. We have to give it our best and we’ll see what happens.
“We’ll give it a good crack,” the coach continued. “Any team that plays us will know that we’re a real threat.
“We’ve played some excellent rugby - in five of the six games we played really well and we got through a really tough group.” If the Warriors beat Saracens, they will have a home semi-final against Leinster or Wasps.
In the Challenge Cup, Edinburgh, who completed their pool stage with a win over Timisoara Saracens on Friday night at Myreside, will be back at Murrayfield for their quarter-final against La Rochelle. Edinburgh were seeded third after winning Pool Five, so play the French side as they were best runners-up and seeded sixth.
If Edinburgh go through they will be away to the winners of the Gloucester-Cardiff tie in the semi-final. The last-eight ties in both competitions will be played between 30 March and 2 April, with the precise dates due to be announced later this week.
Champions Cup quarter-finals: Clermont Auvergne v Toulon, Munster v Toulouse, Saracens v Glasgow, Leinster v Wasps.
Challenge Cup quarter-finals: Ospreys v Stade Francais, Bath v Brive, Edinburgh v La Rochelle, Gloucester v Cardiff.
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