Glasgow Warriors continue to build momentum as play-offs loom

The opportunity to build momentum going into the play-offs could not be more graphically demonstrated than in the way this closing sequence of matches allows the Scotstoun-based side to take control of their own destiny in the next month. However, as Henry Pyrgos observed yesterday, this is part of a process which effectively began when he joined the club three years ago.

"Last season was great," he said. "In my first year, we struggled and then it was great to bounce back. I think last season a lot of games were very tight and a lot of games could have gone either way. This year, our attacking's evolving all the time and I feel like a lot of the squad is the same as last year, so we're getting better and better.

"I think we're a better team than we were midway through last season but next season, hopefully, we'll be a better team still, so I hope it's going to continue like that."

There is no longer any excuse for that not being the case, which is far from how it was when Pyrgos was signed in 2010. Then, Glasgow had just reached the inaugural play-offs but had done so on a shoestring, and budgets were such that it almost proved counter-productive, enhanced reputations for players resulting in them being targeted by wealthier rivals.

The upside was that opportunities arose for lesser-known home-grown talent such as Pyrgos, who has responded to the faith shown in him by emerging this season as an internationalist who looks more assured with every performance for club and country.

Not that doing so has been enough to ensure him a place in the Glasgow side, their transformed spending power meaning that when Chris Cusiter was injured earlier this season they were able to get a ready-made replacement in the electrifying Niko Matawalu. As the Fijian collected one man-of-the-match award after another, Pyrgos demonstrated his professionalism by reprising his Scotland performances by coming off the bench to bring extra energy at the closing stages of matches. He has earned this opportunity. So, too, has another youngster as Mark Bennett gets the chance to add to an impressive start in Glasgow colours having scored two tries in three appearances since returning home from Clermont Auvergne.

The centre's early career path is another example of the way Glasgow have gone from being a selling club – they could not afford to keep the then teenager when the French club's academy offered him a deal two years ago – to one capable of competing for the signatures of highly rated players.

Now, as they did earlier this week, when they play training matches, the depth of their squad is such that there can be no-holds-barred sessions, in turn, helping the management assess form.

Gregor Townsend, their head coach, spoke with relish about having been able to do so ahead of what looks like being a hugely intense meeting with opponents who cannot afford to lose on their home patch tonight if they are to reach the semi-finals.

The Scarlets have considerable firepower, not least in the shape of George North, who, as Townsend observed, may feel he has something to prove to his home-town supporters after his controversial move to Northampton Saints was finally confirmed this week.

However, Glasgow travel there as league leaders having, on their last outing, thrashed a Munster side which, nine days later, overpowered English champions Harlequins on their own patch to reach yet another Heineken Cup semi-final.

They can take confidence from that but Townsend was more interested in the lessons to be drawn from the way the Irish province performed at Twickenham in last Sunday's quarter-final. "We talked about that; I asked the players what they thought about Munster and their win and it was more the desire of Munster and what they did over 80 minutes which is something we can learn from," he said.

Within that context, Townsend claimed to be dissatisfied with Glasgow's 50-point thrashing of Munster at Scotstoun a fortnight ago.

"We were not as happy with the performance as a result like that would suggest . . . we will look first at ourselves," he said. "We know that Munster came at us really strongly and defensively – speed to the breakdown, managing the ball. We were disappointing in the first half.

"To get the turn-round was great in terms of tactics and also the attitude in the second half. We do realise there was some great play, as well, so we are not being over-critical of the team; some of the rugby they played in the second half was outstanding [but] if we are going to win the big games that are remaining, we cannot have 40-minute performances, we need 80 minutes or at least some more complete performances."

If they can live up to such aspirations, the momentum they take into the play-offs surely will be irresistible.

Beat the Scarlets tonight and Glasgow Warriors are definitely in the RaboDirect Pro12 play-offs. Follow that up with a win over the Ospreys next week and they will be odds on to host a semi-final. Then finish off with another at Connacht and they will finish top of the table, ensuring that they will also play the Grand Final at home, if they can get through.

The opportunity to build momentum going into the play-offs could not be more graphically demonstrated than in the way this closing sequence of matches allows the Scotstoun-based side to take control of their own destiny in the next month. However, as Henry Pyrgos observed yesterday, this is part of a process which effectively began when he joined the club three years ago.

"Last season was great," he said. "In my first year, we struggled and then it was great to bounce back. I think last season a lot of games were very tight and a lot of games could have gone either way. This year, our attacking's evolving all the time and I feel like a lot of the squad is the same as last year, so we're getting better and better.

"I think we're a better team than we were midway through last season but next season, hopefully, we'll be a better team still, so I hope it's going to continue like that."

There is no longer any excuse for that not being the case, which is far from how it was when Pyrgos was signed in 2010. Then, Glasgow had just reached the inaugural play-offs but had done so on a shoestring, and budgets were such that it almost proved counter-productive, enhanced reputations for players resulting in them being targeted by wealthier rivals.

The upside was that opportunities arose for lesser-known home-grown talent such as Pyrgos, who has responded to the faith shown in him by emerging this season as an internationalist who looks more assured with every performance for club and country.

Not that doing so has been enough to ensure him a place in the Glasgow side, their transformed spending power meaning that when Chris Cusiter was injured earlier this season they were able to get a ready-made replacement in the electrifying Niko Matawalu. As the Fijian collected one man-of-the-match award after another, Pyrgos demonstrated his professionalism by reprising his Scotland performances by coming off the bench to bring extra energy at the closing stages of matches. He has earned this opportunity. So, too, has another youngster as Mark Bennett gets the chance to add to an impressive start in Glasgow colours having scored two tries in three appearances since returning home from Clermont Auvergne.

The centre's early career path is another example of the way Glasgow have gone from being a selling club – they could not afford to keep the then teenager when the French club's academy offered him a deal two years ago – to one capable of competing for the signatures of highly rated players.

Now, as they did earlier this week, when they play training matches, the depth of their squad is such that there can be no-holds-barred sessions, in turn, helping the management assess form.

Gregor Townsend, their head coach, spoke with relish about having been able to do so ahead of what looks like being a hugely intense meeting with opponents who cannot afford to lose on their home patch tonight if they are to reach the semi-finals.

The Scarlets have considerable firepower, not least in the shape of George North, who, as Townsend observed, may feel he has something to prove to his home-town supporters after his controversial move to Northampton Saints was finally confirmed this week.

However, Glasgow travel there as league leaders having, on their last outing, thrashed a Munster side which, nine days later, overpowered English champions Harlequins on their own patch to reach yet another Heineken Cup semi-final.

They can take confidence from that but Townsend was more interested in the lessons to be drawn from the way the Irish province performed at Twickenham in last Sunday's quarter-final. "We talked about that; I asked the players what they thought about Munster and their win and it was more the desire of Munster and what they did over 80 minutes which is something we can learn from," he said.

Within that context, Townsend claimed to be dissatisfied with Glasgow's 50-point thrashing of Munster at Scotstoun a fortnight ago.

"We were not as happy with the performance as a result like that would suggest . . . we will look first at ourselves," he said. "We know that Munster came at us really strongly and defensively – speed to the breakdown, managing the ball. We were disappointing in the first half.

"To get the turn-round was great in terms of tactics and also the attitude in the second half. We do realise there was some great play, as well, so we are not being over-critical of the team; some of the rugby they played in the second half was outstanding [but] if we are going to win the big games that are remaining, we cannot have 40-minute performances, we need 80 minutes or at least some more complete performances."

If they can live up to such aspirations, the momentum they take into the play-offs surely will be irresistible.