WHEN it comes to delivering a critique on Glasgow Warriors’ season then Dougie Hall can just about cover it off from all angles. A former Warriors and Scotland hooker, he is also a fan of the Scotstoun outfit, as well as being associated with the sponsorship of the club. This term, he has watched Glasgow shift from Gregor Townsend’s team to becoming Dave Rennie’s boys. And for Hall, the next few seasons will see even more subtle shifts.

“I think I watch the matches as an ex-player first, then a fan and then someone who is involved in the sponsorship side of things,” said Hall, who played for Warriors for eight years until 2015 having previously been at Edinburgh, and who now works as an independent financial advisor with long-time Glasgow sponsors McCrea Financial Services.

“Overall, I think – compared to where Glasgow once were in the not so distant past, dare I say when I played – the progress had continued. But that isn’t to say Glasgow have achieved everything they wanted out of this season,” says the 42-times capped Hall, who believes the transition between coaches has been relatively seamless.

“There have been a few personnel changes, but ultimately, the core of the team hasn’t changed. And Dave Rennie, in his first year, was never going to be too radical in his approach.

“I think that good coaches allow players to be at their best. So, in as much as Dave Rennie has brought in his philosophy and his framework, one of the things he has done is allowed the players to play to their strengths. And that is one of the reasons why they have continued with the same momentum they had under Gregor.

“The Glasgow team is just so talented now, when you look at the individual players within the team and the squad. Gone are the days when other teams wouldn’t have touched anyone. Today, no-one would struggle to get a job elsewhere.

“Dave is a really personal guy, and at this level, you are only trying to tweak the wee things. It’s less hands-on, more fine tuning and pointing players in the right direction.

“I’m sure next year, he’ll have a plan to introduce a few more elements. But the way he wants to play, isn’t hugely different to how Gregor set up; fast-paced, up-tempo, good, attacking rugby that puts opposition teams under pressure.

“I’m sure Gregor went out to visit the Chiefs, and he would have learned much from Dave’s programmes while he was in charge there. That crossover was already there before Rennie arrived.”

For Hall, leadership isn’t all about those on the touchlines or stands.

“Look at Munster, as the best example, and what they have achieved, and any good side is well led by the members of that team and by the senior players,” he added. “At that point the coach is just trying to keep everyone focused.

“Over a long season, you get tired and fatigued. And in Glasgow’s case, when you know you have qualified for the semi-finals so far in advance, keeping that concentration and performance level high, that is where the coaching staff really come in to their own.

“There can be a lot of pressure at different parts of the season, and sometimes not all the results have gone their way, in Europe for instance. I think again, the better coaches don’t show any fear or panic and stay pretty calm and fixed on what they are trying to achieve. And that’s what Dave Rennie has pretty much epitomised this season.

“For a team that qualified, I don’t know how many weeks ago, there has been a lot of criticism for some of the results they’ve been getting of late. Again, managing expectation is key.”

For the top players, the season can be relentless; PRO14, Europe, Autumn Tests and Six Nations. Hall though, sounds almost jealous.

“Hard, but what a great problem to have,. I played – fortunately or unfortunately – when there was no or low level of expectation for Scottish teams,” says Hall, who served his first stint at Warriors between 1999 and 2002.

“At times, you felt beaten before you’d started. Now, they know where the bar is set. If they don’t turn up and play, others will step in and do the job. We are way past the glorious loser stage. Delivering year on year is the norm.

“As much as we as fans will always support the team, the players have the mindset that they are good enough to win most seasons. If anything, their expectations are way ahead of the fans.

“You have your big name players, like Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell. But Glasgow have a superb squad of about 50 players, and to see Glasgow with that depth, and also ability, is just fantastic.”