It’s been a good week for Glasgow Warriors. After a comfortable margin of victory over Aironi last Friday, albeit without clinching a bonus point, the Warriors remain in contention of grabbing a top 4 play-off spot. Currently on 51 points after 18 games, they are only a point ahead of Ulster and the Scarlets, but just a bonus point win away from 2nd placed Munster, who Glasgow have yet to play before the end of the season.
Following Friday’s victory over the Italian outfit, Lineen declared his intentions for his team were always to target a top 2 place in order to get home advantage for the semi-final play-off spot. Whatever happens over the next few weeks and final four games, it would be a tragedy for Glasgow not to be one of the four teams involved in the end of season showdown having held on to a top 4 place for the vast majority of the season.
With matches against Munster (2nd), Treviso (9th), Connacht (10th) and Cardiff (7th) this weekend, Glasgow are in a great position to fulfil their pre-season target. Lineen, in his final season as Warriors coach, said “Ideally, we want four out of four wins… Our goal this season was top two, not top four - so we want a home semi-final”. A tough ask, but not impossible. The way the league has played out this year, any team is capable of beating another and so Glasgow's final position in the league may not lie in their own hands. 4 wins would certainly secure them a top 4 finish, bonus points in all would guarantee it, but whether they can achieve a top 2 finish is very unsure.
After all the bad press following the news of Lineen’s departure at the end of the season and the announcement that Gregor Townsend will be filling his seat, Glasgow have announced a series of new signings and re-signings that will help assure the fans about the future of the team. Most significant is the contract extension of John Barclay, a player who has spent his whole pro career at the club and who has captained the team on several occasions.
John Barclay has signed a new deal
at Glasgow Warriors
Following the announcement, Barclay said "I'm delighted to be re-signing for the Warriors at a time when the club is really going places...The atmosphere and ambition around the club is the best I've experienced.
"It's always a big call to decide where your future lies, particularly when you've been with one club for a significant period.
"I've taken some time to think through the decision, and I'm convinced that it's the right one. Glasgow Warriors are going places and I want to contribute to that process."
Encouraging words indeed, particularly from such a stalwart at the club and it's important that the fans heed his words.
It's players like Barclay that will halp Galsgow secure that play-off berth and take them further. As with all the players so faithful to Lineen, he will be anxious to do it for his coach in his final season.
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