The Warriors’ first defeat in ten games, 14-7 to Connacht on Saturday, means they will have to return to Galway in two weeks and do what no team has yet done – win away from home in the PRO12 semi-finals.
Advertisement
As the sun shone and it rained tries elsewhere, here on the Atlantic coast it just rained incessantly, but Connacht rolled up their sleeves and got down and dirty to beat Glasgow for the first time in four seasons. Then you’ve got guys like Stuart Hogg and [Lee] Jones and [Tommy] Seymour. They’re going to come back stronger and as I challenge, the boys, everything we’ve done all season is about our preparation, our day-to-day. The Warriors have a lot more in the tank, one suspects, but it’ll need an effective detailed gameplan, better execution and far better discipline than they showed on Saturday.
Even when Kieran Marmion (above) went too long from the base of the scrum, the kick chase made good any overcooking.
Leinster, Connacht, Glasgow Warriors and Ulster have qualified for the play-offs with Lam’s team hosting the Warriors on May 21.
Warriors winger Tommy Seymour has insisted that the credit for his PRO12 Try of the Season award should be shared by team-mates Finn Russell and Duncan Weir.
With such a large representation, it was no surprise to read that Pat Lam won the coach of the season award, John Muldoon won the Chairman’s award, while Bundee Aki also collected the prize for player of the season. “But when it counted we stepped up, certainly against the attacks they had”. For us to come in and do what we just did, playing a game of rugby we haven’t played.
He said: “It’s a great honour to win the young-player award”.
After a bright opening 20 minutes when the Warriors should have built a sizeable advantage on the scoreboard, Connacht’s defence held pretty well, with Bundee Aki, a nuisance in all areas of the pitch, particularly outstanding.
Centre Bundee Aki and winger Matt Healy have both returned from injury to take their place in a back line that also sees the re-introduction of Robbie Henshaw at centre and AJ McGinty at outhalf.
Advertisement
As expected, Glasgow piled on the pressure after the restart and the sides were level after a converted try by Gordon Reid on 48 minutes, Russell adding the conversion to tie the match at 7-7 apiece.
