Lawrence Dallaglio believes Glasgow Warriors are ready to take the next step in the Investec Champions Cup as they look to find a continental cutting edge.
Warriors were highly-fancied in last season’s competition but were beaten in the quarter-finals by a Toulon side who were languishing in 11th in France’s Top 14 at the time. That came after statement home wins over star-studded Toulouse and Saracens sides in the pool stage and the challenge now lies in showing that sort of form on a more consistent basis against Europe’s best.
Dallaglio on Glasgow's knockout record
Former England captain Dallaglio, speaking at this week's EPCR season launch in Lyon for Premier Sports, said: “Every year they promise us that they’re going to go one stage further and win it. But they don’t seem to manage to do it, do they?
“There’s no doubt about their pedigree, and they’re capable of beating anyone on their day in the pool stages. But when they’ve been asked to do it in the knockout stages, they’ve come second-best. If they can replicate what they do in the pool matches and remember how to win a big knockout game, then, listen, they’ve done it at URC level. They haven’t managed to do it at Champions Cup level yet.
“The knock-on effect of them doing so could be very positive for Scotland because they’re very capable of beating England, but they’re not always as capable of being consistent against the other top nations. I think there’s a great opportunity for that to happen.”
New season fixtures and French dominance
Dallaglio was speaking ahead of the new season of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, which will again be shown exclusively live on Premier Sports. Glasgow start with a trip to Sale Sharks on October 17, while Toulon are back in Scotland to face Edinburgh in their Challenge Cup opener the previous night.
French clubs have lifted the Champions Cup in each of the past six seasons but Dallaglio feels the chasing pack can put up a fight this term, with the new campaign beginning on October 16.
“The French teams are the ones to beat but it is not impossible,” he said. “Of the English sides, I thought Bath were the equal of Bordeaux last season in the semi-final. There were just a couple of moments where they didn’t quite take advantage, and few would have complained if Bath had gone on to win that game. They were very much part of that contest, so I still see them as the flag-bearers.
“I feel Saracens have got the bit between their teeth. They seem like a new and very different Saracens team, with Brendan (Venter) seeming very well established in that environment. And if South Africa decided, whether with Stormers or the Bulls, that they wanted to have a real crack at this competition, they have everything in their power to win it. They’ve got the players, the structure and the know-how.”
Lawrence Dallaglio is part of the Premier Sports team bringing every game live from the Investec Champions Cup. To join in visit www.premiersports.com for 400+ live rugby games every season plus every game from the Rugby League World Cup.
