Who wants to win a European Cup anyway? My wife has just cleared out a load of cups we had filling up the cupboards so I can only imagine Franco and the boys were thinking of the clutter another trophy in the cabinet would cause.
Heartbreaking. That’s the only way to describe the defeat to Quins last time out. If that kick is a little more on the money or George Horne is off and running a little faster, we’re in that game against Bordeaux.
Or, maybe more to the point, if we’d taken points earlier in the game instead of chasing tries, we might have been there.
Might. It’s all hypotheticals and hindsight after a game, isn’t it? “If we had just…”, “Why didn’t we…”, “if the ref hadn’t been so one-sided…”.
Actually, that last one might have some traction. I hate blaming officials (no, really) but I was doing my dinger at some of his calls, which were questionable to say the least.
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But the game was still in our hands and therefore, we still had to do the basics and take chances when they came.
It's a loss. We have to move on.
Because if there’s an animal you don’t want to know that you’re wounded, it’s a Shark, especially one that’s tasted Scottish blood in the last few days.
Yes it’s Friday night lights time again as Glasgow host the Sharks in the URC and on paper and league form, this is five relatively easy points staying at Scotstoun.
A total of 31 points separate the sides, with the Sharks having only three wins in the competition all season and 10 defeats, the exact reverse of the Warriors' results.
Indeed all three of their victories have been at home, away wins proving as elusive as Edinburgh league titles.
But they’ve beaten Ulster and Edinburgh in the last two league games and wins over Zebre and Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup mean they are undefeated in four. Yes, every game was at home, but that’s still not too bad.
But the unpredictability of the South African sides doesn’t just stop at their results. Team selection, or rather, Franco trying to second guess team selection, must be difficult. Which Shark are you getting? The Great White from Jaws, chewing up and spitting out everything in its path or Lenny the vegetarian from Shark Tale (it’s a kids movie for those of a certain generation!)
Look at what they could have in their line-up: Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Werner Kok. That’s pure South African muscle and power right there.
Not many sides in the world wouldn’t take at least one of them (Leinster could probably afford them all!).
They have serious ability, but so heavily rested are some of the Bok stars, there’s no guarantee we will see any of these players. Indeed, I’d held off on writing this to see what their travelling squad was.
Indeed, the coach John Plumtree has said changes to freshen the team up will be made. So I’d expect we will see very few, if any, of the guys mentioned above gracing the hallowed plastic of Scotstoun. And that’s very disappointing.
So if the Sharks are weakened, Glasgow must put the foot down and ensure they rack up the points and get the bonus point. Five points on Friday night could go a long way towards Glasgow securing second in the URC and a play-off spot against a lower ranked side.
On Saturday, the Bulls and Munster face-off in Pretoria and I for one am hoping for a draw!
Regardless of results this weekend, we do know one thing ahead of next season and that is that Adam Hastings will be returning to the club.
READ MORE: Adam Hastings signs up for Glasgow Warriors return
In what is probably the worst kept secret since Rory Sutherland's return, the mercurial fly-half will be plying his trade with us for the next couple of seasons, and it’s fair to say opinion is divided.
Some are happy to see him back, some are not so happy that he’s making his way home.
On his day, Hastings can be a game changer. You only have to look at the lovely little grubber kick through for Gloucester against Ospreys on Friday to see the ability he has and what he can bring to the side.
He’s the type of 10 we’ve been crying out for - a baller.
But there are those who were unhappy with Hastings who left the first time a decent offer came in for him from Gloucester. That he didn’t repay loyalty shown to him.
My view is that he’s our player again and he’ll be backed for the time that he’s at the club. Hopefully it will herald a successful period for the club.
But it does raise serious questions about fly half. Duncan Weir is expected to sign a new contract, Tom Jordan, although a natural centre, seems to be the preferred option for now, Hastings will be expected to be number one and that leaves Ross Thompson…
I’m not sure where it will leave him in truth. Edinburgh I suspect. I think that’s a shame as he has the ability but doesn’t seem to be in the grand plans.
So bring on the Sharks, with or without the Boks and we’ll see what Friday night brings. Five points please Franco!
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