RUARIDH Jackson can draw upon past experience as he urges his Glasgow Warriors team-mates to believe that they can still find a way to qualify for the knockout stages in the European Champions Cup, writes Kevin Ferrie.
Boasting a 100-per-cent record in the Pro14 this season, having registered try bonus points in all bar two of their 10 matches, Glasgow’s form in Europe represents a complete reversal of that by losing both matches – failing to register so much as a bonus point in losing at English Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs, before being well beaten by domestic rivals Leinster a week later.
Jackson – the official man of the match after Friday’s 40-16 win over Cardiff – has been in this situation before and believes they can still turn things around as they anticipate this Friday’s visit of former Scotland coach Vern Cotter’s Montpellier. The first half of a double-header against a French side that has also lost both its opening matches.
“We’re frustrated with the start in Europe,” Jackson admitted. “We actually put in a decent performance down at Exeter and were right in it with a few minutes to go, but unfortunately they got a try to take it away from us at the very end.
“However we were bitterly disappointed with the Leinster performance and whenever people come to our home patch we want to put on a performance for our crowd and to put us in a good position going forward.”
Jackson, who looks set to continue at full-back since Stuart Hogg is still struggling with a hip problem, said they know what is coming at the weekend, noting that Montpellier’s “wingers are bigger than the majority of forwards”.
However he is confident that Glasgow can register the win that may demoralise their opponents and help them win again in France to stay in touch with Exeter and Leinster.
“We can definitely rescue it,” he insisted.
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