I know Franco Smith feels differently but for me it’s now or never when it comes to Glasgow’s prospects of winning the Champions Cup.
My old boss is a man forever with a plan and I know from playing golf with him recently that he’s already looking ahead to next season and plotting his next moves.
But I just look at the list of big names heading for the Scotstoun exit door this summer – Jack Dempsey, Huw Jones, Adam Hastings, Jamie Bhatti and others – and feel like Warriors might never get a better chance of becoming European champions.
Franco loves the idea of his team flying under the radar but Glasgow are a name on everybody’s lips now, especially given how well they’ve performed in the Champions Cup this season. The pool stage could scarcely have gone better; four bonus-point victories against some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
And that famous win over Toulouse at Scotstoun, for me has to go down as one of the best comebacks of the season from any team. At home, especially, Glasgow are such a tough nut to crack and it’s got to the point that even when they’re trailing you know that they’re going to fight back in the second half to get the win.
Stafford McDowall touches down to score the decisive try in Glasgow’s win over the Bulls
Warriors coach Franco Smith is set to lose a host of star players in the summer
We saw that only just last weekend when they trailed the Bulls in the Champions Cup round of 16 but clawed their way back into it to get over the line to set up the club’s first ever home quarter-final in this competition against Toulon.
There never seems to be any panic if they fall behind. And I know from speaking to Franco and a few of the guys that there’s a calmness there that if they stick to the plan and follow the process then it will usually turn out okay in the end.
He knows when he wants to bring his subs on and when to tweak things in the latter stages and you have to say he’s a master tactician on that front. I can barely think of an occasion when it’s not worked out which shows what a brilliant job Franco and the others are doing.
When you get to this stage of the season with a chance to win two trophies then you can sense the excitement building among the supporters and I’m 100 percent on that bandwagon too. Franco, his coaches and the players have to stay calm and measured and keep preaching the mantra of ‘one game at a time’ but I’m their biggest cheerleader so I’m allowed to get carried away!
It’s hard not to think about a potential semi-final at Murrayfield against Leinster probably and if they can then win that one then it’s off to Bilbao to play Bordeaux or Toulouse possibly for the chance to become European champions. And what a weekend that would be.
Forward Jack Dempsey is leaving Glasgow in the summer to sign for a club in Japan
I always try to get the boys hyped up about what could lie ahead when I’m interviewing them on the pitch post-match for Premier Sports but I know behind the scenes Franco will be preaching the opposite message. And the players will be listening to him more than they do me because they know they’ve won nothing yet.
I’ve heard both Sione Tuipulotu and Kyle Steyn say as much at different points of the season and they’re spot on. Yes, it’s brilliant to be top of the URC right now and with home advantage secured in Europe but until you’re sitting enjoying a beer with a trophy sat next to you then you’ve achieved nothing. And that’s what will drive them on over the next few months.
Of course, the only downside of sorts from Glasgow’s brilliant form is that other clubs have started to sit up and take notice of their players. Scottish rugby can’t really compete with the money on offer in France, Japan and other places which is why you’re seeing a load of the guys heading for a new challenge next season.
But I’m 100 percent sure that the ones who are leaving would love nothing more than to do so with another winner’s medal in their luggage. That’s why I feel they might never get a better chance to do something special in the Champions Cup before a lot of the big names head off because who knows what will happen next season? So I feel like they really have to seize the moment and hopefully go all the way.
Toulon scrum-half Ben White will be eager to face his Scotland team-mates this weekend
Premier Sports pundit Ryan Wilson speaks to Glasgow coach Duncan Weir
First of all, however, it’s all about getting past Toulon. I know people are saying they’re struggling but I’m not buying that.. They’re a club with an incredible European pedigree as three-time champions and players like Kyle Sinckler, David Ribbans, Zach Mercer – whose old man, Gary, used to coach me at Glasgow – Nacho Brex, Tomas Albornoz and, of course, Ben White who will be relishing the chance to play against his Scotland team-mates. So, it’s all set up for a cracking contest.
I just wish I was out there still playing. Why wouldn’t you? I keep telling the other boys that I reckon I could do 20 minutes off the bench with no training! But it’s just great still to be involved with my old club, especially covering their matches for Premier Sports.
I have to give Glasgow massive credit for the access they allow us, especially after a match when I’m allowed to grab just about anyone wandering about the pitch. Those interviews are always good fun and it’s the sort of thing the viewers want to see as they’re actually getting to know the boys a bit more with them speaking quite freely.
Premier Sports are always looking to push the boundaries of our coverage and it would be great if more clubs could give us that level of access to help us try to grow the sport and bring it to new audiences.
Ryan Wilson joins the Premier Sports team of John Barclay, Simon Zebo, Ross Harries, Rory Hamilton and Connie McLaughlin with live coverage of Glasgow Warriors v Toulon from Scotstoun on Saturday from 2pm on Premier Sports 2.
Premier Sports is the home of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup across the UK and Ireland, with every game live from this weekend’s quarter finals plus the semi-finals and blockbuster Finals weekend in Bilbao on 22/23 May. Visit premiersports.com to join in from just £11.99 a month to enjoy more than 400 live top-flight rugby games. @PremSports.tv
