Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith has urged his players to keep their foot to the floor after completing a stunning clean sweep in the pool stage of the Champions Cup.
The Warriors secured their place in the top two seeds after an emphatic victory over Saracens at Scotstoun last night, following on from their wins over Toulouse, Clermont and Sale Sharks over the past month.
With a last-16 tie to come against the Bulls, the top-two seeding ensures that Smith’s men will hold home advantage all the way throughout the knockout stages.
Glasgow blew Saracens away during a brilliant first half which saw them score three tries through Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn and George Horne, before Seb Stephen added a fourth for the bonus point late in the second half.
After watching his team underline their credentials as serious contenders, Smith insisted it was imperative that they now capitalise on having home advantage.
‘It’s only an opportunity if you make use of it,’ he said. ‘Last year, we’d gone through the round of 16 and then we got hammered in the quarters [by Leinster, away from home].
Sione Tuipulotu is thrilled at full-time as Glasgow celebrate another European success
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith warned his players not to get carried away with victory
Kyle Steyn breaks clear of the Saracens line on his to scoring Glasgow’s second of four tries
‘I think part of it was a lot of injuries. At that stage, home advantage would have served us much better than going to hostile places like the Aviva.
‘If we go to the Aviva, if we go to any of the top teams that we are facing in this competition, it’s tough.
‘Hopefully, Scotstoun will give us that confidence that we have won a lot of games here as well.’
No Scottish team has ever completed a clean sweep in the pool stage of the Champions Cup. But Smith believes there is now a growing confidence and maturity in this Glasgow team.
‘I’m glad to see the progression that we’ve had in the last three-and-a-half-years since I’ve been here,’ continued Smith, whose side only missed out on top spot to Bordeaux on points difference. ‘We’ve progressed every year.’
Meanwhile, Edinburgh will travel to Leinster in the last 16. Sean Everitt’s side limped through despite being hammered against Bath on Friday night.
