Glasgow Warriors | Squad effort keeps Warriors in the mix
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May 17, 2015

Squad effort keeps Warriors in the mix

Posted by Editor on May 17, 2015 10:27 PM | No comments | Print | E-mail author

Alastair Kellock has stressed the importance of the Glasgow squad's strength in depth
Alastair Kellock says strength in depth has been vital to Glasgow's pursuit of a first PRO12 title.

Talking to BBC Scotland, the Glasgow skipper said: "You don't win anything with a strong 15 or 23.

"It has to be a squad effort and we've bought into that.

"It's a lesson we've learned from the Ulsters, the Leinsters, the Munsters over the years."

Saturday's 32-10 victory over Ulster earned Glasgow a home semi-final against the same opposition on Friday.

Head coach Gregor Townsend made five changes 12 minutes into the second half to try to force a breakthrough as they sought the four tries they needed to secure a home semi-final.

Minures later Stuart Hogg went over for Glasgow's opening try, which was followed by a double from Finn Russell and another from Richie Vernon to clinch the bonus point.

Al continued: "It's not just the 23 that played yesterday.

"The conversation we had at the beginning of last week is that it is the entire squad that will determine if we win or lose at the weekend.

"The quality of the training is all about the guys who aren't involved and the effort they put in throughout the week.

"That is something we have been very good at and it will have to happen again this week."

Al believes it's the squad strength that has helped the team cope with injuries to players like Alex Dunbar and Mark Bennett.

"We don't need to talk about the players that are missing because of the players that are coming in," he said.

"To me, Peter Horne and Richie Vernon have been up there with the best players we've had on the park in the last couple of weeks.

"Yes, we have lost a couple of great centres but the guys who have stepped up have been brilliant and that is the same in every position.

"The strength we have in our squad means losing one or two players, we still have the back-up.

"Look at Fraser Lyle, who got his opportunity during the Six Nations. I said at the time it was one of the best debuts I have ever seen. This is a guy who has been playing amateur rugby."

Ulster will be a much-changed side for the semi-final with Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave and Ruan Pienaar likely to start.

"It is about beating the team that is put in front of us," said Al.

"Yesterday was about trying to get the bonus point, next Friday night will be a different game entirely.

"We looked at the Ulster team expecting them to be playing most of their big names so a lot of the homework has already been done."