GREGOR Townsend has seen Connacht get steadily better over the past few seasons in the PRO12 - but now the Glasgow coach knows he will have to get an improved performance from his own side a week tomorrow if they are to stop the Irish province from reaching their first final.

The Warriors lost 14-7 in Galway last weekend in the last game of the regular league season, meaning they will have to go back to the Sportsground for the semi-final. Townsend knows that in the rematch his squad will need to keep a tighter rein on their emotions than they did in that game, when Sila Puafisi was sent off.

“Emotional control in a game that is so highly contested, when the crowd are cheering every decision - you have to make sure you’re still doing what you set out to do,” Townsend said yesterday at a press conference at BT Murrayfield, where the final will be held on 28 May. “Jonny [Gray] will put his hand up, because he gave away a penalty that led to a lineout drive and then a try.

“Then Sila’s incident ended with a red card. We have to make sure that we keep our emotions in check.

“As a group, there was a feeling that we didn’t play as well as we could. There was also a feeling that there were a lot of good things that didn’t lead to points, which would have on another day.

“The building blocks are still there, but we know we can perform much better. But Connacht can play better too, especially on a dry day.”

Scrum-half Henry Pyrgos is recovering well from the neck injury that ruled him out of the Warriors squad last week, and should be available for selection. Centre Alex Dunbar is doubtful after being injured in the 14-7 defeat, and a decision will be taken at the start of next week.A disciplinary hearing into Puafisi’s sending-off is expected on Monday, meaning that, by Tuesday, Townsend should know exactly who is available for the semi-final.

Townsend has seen Connacht improve steadily in recent seasons, but he believes the difference in this campaign has been partly down to hard work, and partly thanks to head coach Pat Lam’s insistence on playing adventurous rugby. “We had never lost at Connacht, and part of the reason for that was that we prepared so well over the last few years because we respected them so much,” he said.

“They were a very tough team, very effective round the breakdown and set piece. I’d say their lineout drive was better than any in the competition.

“Their attack has gone to another level this year, and Pat told me they did a lot of work in the pre-season. During the season they were determined to stick with their approach to move the ball and it has brought rewards. If you have a go it has more chance of coming off.”

Meanwhile, Warriors centre Mark Bennett is one of five Scots to be included in Team GB’s wider sevens squad from which the final dozen for the Olympic Games in Rio will be chosen. The other four - Jamie Farndale, Gavin Lowe, Scott Riddell and Mark Robertson - are all specialist sevens players. The squad of 12 to compete in the Games will be announced on 19 July.