Glasgow Warriors can use the Six Nations window to ensure that they are ready to overturn last weekend’s result at Allianz Park when they return there to meet Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter-final according to their assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys.
The forwards coach knows that they will need to increase their physicality to have any chance of beating the English champions on their own patch and for all that the majority of their leading players will be on international duty, he reckons the weeks ahead, competing in the Pro14 with a weakened squad will be valuable.
“There are constant work-ons to be getting on with, which will be vital if we are to beat any of the top teams, whether that is in the Pro14 or the Champions Cup,” he said.“If we are going to be beat the likes of Leinster, Munster and Saracens we are going to have to be very physical and very accurate, so those will always be work-ons for us. It is great that we are in the quarter-finals, but for us at the moment it is vital that we front up and do well in this competition over the next few weeks.”
He noted that recent experience should encourage those still at Scotstoun to appreciate the opportunity that presents itself, players who shone for Glasgow in November having been rewarded once the squad was back at full strength.
“We’re delighted with how we went in the autumn and it is a challenge for us to replicate that sort of form and intensity during this Six Nations window,” said Humphreys.
“We’ve still got a very, very good team left here and what we’ve done in the past is reward boys who have done well in this period and the reward for playing well now could be a quarter-final spot against Saracens.”
“Because of the way selection has gone in the past, everyone in this team should feel that if they play well when they get a chance then they will be rewarded and this obviously a massive carrot for all the young players. It has benefitted the likes of George Horne and Stafford McDowall in the past. If you look at Grant Stewart, he was in the academy last year and he has now played more Champions Cup rugby than Pro14 and played very, very well. Kiran McDonald played well last year and ended up in the European squad.”
Formerly one of Scotland’s assistant coaches, Humphreys will return to his native Wales later this year to join their national team’s management, but believes he will be leaving Scottish rugby in sound health.
“Both teams (Edinburgh and Glasgow) have really good squads to pick from,” he said. “I’ve said for a long time that the relationship between the pro clubs and Scotland as a whole is really beneficial and you can see that in the performances.”
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