Rugby Union: Glasgow Warriors fail to test Saracens in last eight of Champions Cup

GLASGOW Warriors knew they would need to be at their best yesterday to have a chance of winning their Champions Cup quarter-final against the team acknowledged as the best in Europe over the past two years. They fell some way short.

Defending champions Saracens, who now meet Munster in the semi-final later this month, were worthy winners, but the Warriors could and should have given them a sterner test.

Lucky to be only 14-3 down at half-time, Townsend’s team fought back into contention in the second half, but missed kicks to touch, missed tackles in defence and spilled balls in attack did as much to thwart them as Saracens’ own efforts.

On occasion the home team’s pace and precision in attack was a painful contrast to Glasgow’s sometimes laboured efforts, and, while the better team clearly won, the fact that the visitors underperformed added to the frustration at the end of a campaign which had seen them perform superbly on occasion to reach the last eight for the first time. “It’s very disappointing we didn’t make it through,” was Gregor Townsend’s verdict. “It’s disappointing we didn’t show a true reflection of ourselves throughout the game.

“As a group we will learn. We play Munster in the PRO12 next week away from home. We need to make sure we are a better team for that experience.

“The players will take it on next season,” added the head coach, who will himself have moved on to take charge of Scotland by that time. If they get games like that again they’ll be a better team. A lot of those players have had another taste of what it’s like to play at the highest level of our game.”

Two early decisions both went in the Warriors’ favour, with the Television Match Official first ruling that Chris Ashton had been tackled into touch by Lee Jones just before touching down on the right, and then denying Sean Maitland a score on the other side, this time Stuart Hogg had forced the attacker into touch before he could score.

Saracens took the lead through an Owen Farrell penalty, and after Finn Russell replied, the England stand-off soon restored his team’s lead.

The physical effort had already taken its toll by that time, with Jonny Gray having been replaced by Greg Peterson after failing a head-injury assessment. With Tim Swinson suspended, that meant Glasgow were without both first-choice locks, and, while Brian Alainu’uese was a tower of strength going forward, the Saracens pack steadily gained the upper hand.

Farrell made it 9-3 with his third successful penalty after 25 minutes, and although Glasgow had done well up to then to deny their opponents a try, that changed five minutes later when Ashton, although briefly held up in the tackle by Russell, was able to turn round and place the ball just behind the line.

Farrell failed to convert, but the double-digit lead looked ominous, especially as Glasgow had only briefly featured as an attacking force. Saracens’ edge in that respect was best highlighted when it took the Warriors half a dozen phases to get out of their own half just before the break.

The next drive did not even get that far, as Glasgow added to their problems by spilling the ball into Saracens’ hands. That almost proved costly as Ashton eventually touched down in the corner, but for the third time in the half the TMO ruled in Glasgow’s favour.

The second half almost began more brightly with Russell kicking and chasing ahead, but a nudge from Jackson Wray threw him off his stride and his next hack ahead went into touch The match needed something unpredictable, and it came in the 48th minute when Russell kicked diagonally to Jones just inside the Saracens half.

The winger bounced off the first tackler, evaded a would-be second, and touched down for a fine score that breathed new hope into the visitors even though Russell’s conversion attempt came back off a post. It also stung Saracens out of their torpor, and within five minutes Marcelo Bosch grabbed their second try, profiting from some tired tackles to break through.

Farrell converted to put the holders 21-8 up, and when he scored his fourth penalty 10 minutes from time any realistic hope of a comeback was ended.

Home captain Brad Barritt emphasised his team’s superiority with one late try, then Ashton grabbed his second, with Farrell converting both.

Ryan Wilson’s unconverted try in the last play of the game made the final score a little more respectable – and evoked one last cheer from the 6000-strong Warriors support.

“To see so many Glasgow fans coming down shows how far the club has come in the last few years,” Townsend added. “But today also shows how much has to be done to make the next step.

“To get through to the last eight was an achievement. But to get to the last four or the final of this tournament you need to be at your very best.”