Gregor Townsend believes Glasgow Warriors have still to reach their peak as a club despite relinquishing their Guinness PRO12 crown with a second successive defeat to Connacht in a brutally and debilitating semi-final.
Scotland stand-off Finn Russell was still in hospital in the west of Ireland last night under observation after taking a heavy face and head knock before a minute had elapsed of a tense match which the Irishmen deservedly won 16-11 to go to this week’s final against Leinster at BT Murrayfield.
Russell and Zander Fagerson’s collision attempting to stop Connacht’s inspirational Bundee Aki just before the minute mark cost both further involvement in the game – Russell needed oxygen and a stretcher after his knock and while Fagerson recovered to walk from the field, he failed the head injury assessment test.
The Glasgow 10 could now be in considerable doubt for Scotland’s tour to Japan next month, but for his club the effect of his and the 20-year-old tight-head’s departure was much more immediate, as they struggled to reorganise in both attack and defence.
Townsend pinpointed that disruptive change – they lost Simone Favaro to another head knock before half-time as well – as key to why his side hadn’t done themselves justice.
But he still believes his team will return with a vengeance next season, even though key men like Leone Nakarawa are leaving Scotstoun.
“We don’t judge where we are on wins and losses: we judge things on consistency throughout a season and are we improving?,” said the coach, who signed a one-year contract extension this season.
“I believe we are, as we have a new group of players who have shown they can play at this level.”
The Warriors did fight back from the early blows and a soft try from Niyi Adeolokun just before the break to get to 13-11 early in the second half but never really looked like adding to Nakarawa’s 49th minute try.
Although AJ MacGinty’s penalty to give Connacht the final breathing space came from a terrible decision by referee Marius Mitrea as Glasgow shunted Connacht in the scrum, the Italian ref was if anything very generous to the Scots team.
Although hammering them with the penalty count, he only went to his pocket for a yellow card when Rodney Ah You high-tackled Stuart Hogg – a correct decision, but one could appreciate the injustice felt by Connacht fans.
Additionally he chalked off two tries by the home side, both on technically correct decisions, but a less fussy referee wouldn’t have gone as far back as Mitrea did to find those little knock-ons.
16-11 was actually flattering to Glasgow and testament to their spirit on the night. Sadly, execution was less good, several lineouts being botched in attacking positions, and the promised “edge” to break Connacht’s defence was missing.
Only Nakarawa appeared a real threat to the Irish side, and it was his last game for Glasgow. Replacing such a unique and unpredictable talent is going to be next to be impossible.
Tactics weren’t great either, especially the decision to play with the wind in the first half. It was partly hamstrung by the first minute disruption, but Glasgow had only 29 per cent possession with the strong wind and then found themselves chasing the game in the final 15 minutes unable to gain any territory with the boot.
One can’t feel anything but great admiration and affection for Connacht. Three years ago the IRFU wanted them wound up and only a fan and player campaign saved the plug being pulled.
Like Glasgow have at Scotstoun, patience and hard work – and not a little good coaching from Pat Lam and his team – has really started something at the Sportsground. They’ll start as underdogs at Murrayfield but won’t mind that, having won there on their last two visits.
For the Warriors, it’s time to lick their wounds and reassess. Next season there is no World Cup disruption, and hopefully no Scotstoun pitch disruption either. Townsend will want to get his team playing their best rugby quicker – for the last three seasons it’s taken a charge after New Year to make the play-offs.
But as Townsend concedes, Ospreys, Cardiff and perhaps even Edinburgh are likely to be much better next season, and Glasgow will need to find an alternative to the Fijian frenzy that might be the real reason the Warriors have lit up the PRO12 this last three seasons.
