Glasgow haven’t been in the best of form lately but I’m still backing my old club to beat the Stormers tomorrow night and qualify for the URC semi-finals.
Franco Smith and the boys wouldn’t have been happy at losing to Leinster last time out but there was something in that performance that told me they’re not going to give up their title without a fight.
They would have headed back to the Aviva desperate to make amends for that heavy Champions Cup defeat there in April and I think there was enough in that performance to give Leinster something to think about, especially if Glasgow end up returning to Dublin next weekend for a semi-final.
First things first, however, and this tricky tie against the Stormers. John Dobson’s side finished the regular season in great form with four straight wins but it ought to be a different story at Scotstoun where Glasgow have been traditionally really strong.
It’s a rematch of last year’s quarter-final which was a really cagey affair in the first half before Warriors stepped it up after the break and ran out fairly comfortable winners.
I suspect it could well be another tight one but I reckon Glasgow will have just a bit too much for their visitors to take the win.
Sebastian Cancelliere scores a try in Glasgow’s quarter-final win over the Stormers last year
The Argentine is hailed by his team-mates for last year’s heroics, with fans hoping for a repeat
Glasgow fans will be praying tomorrow’s game doesn’t prove to be Franco’s farewell
Warriors have had a nightmare time of it with injuries this season and at one point recently they had 27 players not training! So they’ve done well even just to make it this far. And the good news is the situation seems to be clearing up a bit at last.
We saw Sione Tuipulotu back for the first 40 minutes against Leinster which was great news for Glasgow and for the British and Irish Lions.
He looked like he had never been away and showed some nice touches during his time on the pitch.
Having Sione back is massive at this stage of the season, especially with the Lions tour just around the corner, although it’s a blow that his centre partner Huw Jones misses out again for this one.
Glasgow can also call upon Henco Venter again with the big man’s long suspension from the Leicester game at the start of April finally served. Henco is one of those unsung heroes who just goes about his business quietly but what a performer he’s been over the last few years, a real team player.
With Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey still missing, getting Venter back is a real boost for the Glasgow back-row.
Unless Scarlets can shock Leinster on Saturday, this is all set to be Glasgow’s final home game of the season and there will be a few saying their goodbyes to Scotstoun at full-time.
The likes of Venter and Sebastian Cancelliere have been real stalwarts for the team over the last few years.
It’s a shame to see them go but Scottish Rugby seems to be moving down the road of having fewer foreign boys and focusing mainly on Scottish-qualified ones instead.
That makes sense for the benefit of the national team but hopefully there can still be a balance as the overseas players have traditionally added a lot of value, especially when all the Scotland lads go away on international duty.
Grant Gilchrist, Sean Everitt and Sam Skinner face a daunting challenge in South Africa
Ryan Wilson will be on punditry duty with Premier Sports for all the weekend URC action
I’m also hoping this won’t be Franco’s last home game at Glasgow, too.
We’re now into the final year of his contract and other clubs and countries have been sniffing about, so hopefully a deal can be done soon to keep him here as he’s been brilliant for Scottish rugby over the last few years.
After tomorrow it’s all eyes on Loftus on Saturday lunchtime as the Bulls take on Edinburgh. Sean Everitt’s side looked good in the second half of their final regular season match against Ulster, Darcy Graham in particular.
In truth, though, Edinburgh shouldn’t have been leaving it until the last game before booking their place in the top eight.
A squad of that quality should have been in there a lot earlier and even pushing to try to join Glasgow in the top four.
They made it a lot harder for themselves than needed to be the case. Finishing seventh means they’ve got an incredibly difficult route in the playoffs, starting with this quarter-final tie against last year’s finalists.
Jake White and his Bulls players seemed fired up for their recent rematch with Glasgow and it will be a similar story I suspect this weekend.
They seem on a mission to make up for failing to win the final at home last year and I worry they will be too strong for an Edinburgh side still missing one or two players.
For the good of Scottish rugby, though, it would be brilliant to see both our clubs making it to the semi-finals. And, as we saw last year, at that point anything can happen.
■ Ryan Wilson is part of the Premier Sports team showing all four BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-finals this weekend as the home of URC rugby with every game live. Ryan joins Ross Harries, Thinus Delport, Chris Paterson, Andy Goode, Rory Hamilton and Connie McLaughlin for all the action from Scotstoun on Friday from 7pm on Premier Sports 1. Premier Sports now shows more than 400 live rugby games every season including URC, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, Japan League One and MLR with a dedicated 24/7 Premier Sports Rugby Channel. To join in visit www.premiersports.com
