IT IS always something of a satisfying feeling to be able to look back on two bonus-point wins and complain about the performance while accepting the result, but Tommy Seymour, the Glasgow Warriors winger, admits that it is a luxury they are not going to have this week when they launch their latest attempt at a European breakthrough.
Racing Metro are one of the biggest-spending sides in the rich French Top14, and though it is too soon for Dan Carter, their million-euro man, to get his first start after the World Cup, they still have a pack bristling with power and aggression and a back division capable of any number of fancy tricks.
"We are well accustomed to Europe and the quality of sides," Seymour said. "We are used to Drew Mitchell, Bryan Habana, top-quality sides in the French leagues with the money they invest and the quality of their players and their depth. I believe we have the calibre of players to go out and compete with these guys. Fingers crossed we get things right across in Paris and get off to a good start.
"We are looking forward to it; Europe is always an exciting time. For it come on so quickly after I got back [from the World Cup] is an exciting transition period. We have had two good results in the last two weeks but performance wise we probably have not been where we would have wanted to have been.
"In terms of the points we have got, we have given ourselves a lot of confidence. There are a few things to tighten up, especially after last week, but Europe is an exciting time and Europe always has a great buzz about it so the trip to Paris should be a lot of fun."
Glasgow's sorry record in Europe has been well documented and stands in radical contrast to their league successes where they have reached the knock-out stage in five of the last six seasons and won the tournament a few months ago. For Seymour and his colleagues, all that has only sharpened their appetite for breaking their Euro-duck.
"Our ambition is very high," said Seymour. "We weren’t private about our ambitions in the league last year. Gregor [Townsend, the head coach] was very vocal about the way he viewed the league. External pressure is something we don’t worry about it but as a squad it [reaching a European quarter final] is something we badly want to do, especially after coming so close last year.
"A lot of the guys played at the World Cup, experienced the pressured environment, one game having such a bearing on another. How you progress out of the group is a similar to Europe. Gaining that knowledge can have a hugely beneficial impact.
"The guys have played in Europe enough to know what to expect. There is confidence amongst this group of players that this is something we need to do, to step up to. We know if we play the rugby we can really play we can turn over the group and progress."
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