HISTORY BOYS
Warriors reach last eight of the European Champions Cup for first time
GLASGOW WARRIORS head coach Gregor Townsend declared his team would fear no one in the European Champions Cup knockout stages and hailed their resounding win over Leicester Tigers as one of the greatest results in Scottish rugby history.
Warriors’ six-try romp at Welford Road secured them qualification to the quarterfinals for the first time where they could meet Saracens or Munster. Touchdowns from Tommy Seymour, Jonny Gray, Ryan Wilson, Mark Bennett, Tim Swinson and a penalty try after superb forwards pressure by Glasgow helped inflict a humiliating
defeat on Leicester Tigers, the English club’s biggest-ever home loss in Europe.
An emotional Townsend said the emphatic victory showed how far Scottish rugby and Glasgow Warriors, in particular, had come since the early days of professionalism.
‘That is a milestone result and it shows where Scottish rugby is compared to where it was 20 years or so ago,’ said Townsend.
‘Then, Glasgow were losing by 90 points to Leicester Tigers in Europe at Welford Road and now we have come here again and beaten them.
‘Even ten years ago, there wasn’t that much hope in the future of pro rugby in Scotland with one of the teams, the Borders, closing down and the other two not doing well.
‘Now we have a situation where we had a huge number of Glasgow fans down here, the team are winning and qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe for the first time ever.
‘That performance against Leicester was one of our best since I have ever been involved and the players’ desire to win meant we managed to keep going for the 80 minutes.
‘Welford Road is a fortress in European rugby, as it has been this season and previous ones. But we came here and won well.’
Townsend said his team would look ahead with confidence to the knockout stages after qualifying in such style from a tough pool.
‘The knockout stages are in April. We are away from home but whoever we play we go there with confidence,’ he said.
‘We will have that confidence because we beat two excellent teams in away games, Racing 92 and Leicester Tigers, to ensure our qualification.’
Elated Warriors captain Jonny Gray said he felt proud to have led his team to such a comprehensive victory at such a famous ground.
‘That was something very, very special for everyone involved with Glasgow as qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe has been our long-term goal,’ he said.
‘Qualifying is not just for the guys who played out there, but for the guys who played for the Al Kellocks of this world who laid the foundations through the years.’
Leicester head coach Aaron Mauger had no complaints at the final score and believes Townsend’s team would do well in the knockout stages.
‘There was no lack of effort or desire from us against a Glasgow side that were very, very good,’ said Mauger.