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May 21, 2015

Warriors must be at the top of their game

Posted by Editor on May 21, 2015 06:38 PM | No comments | Print | E-mail author

Gregor Townsend says Warriors must put in their best home display of the season
Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend wants his side to extinguish all memory of last year’s PRO12 final defeat and instead focus on the semi-final before it to inspire them to a win over Ulster tomorrow.

The Warriors finished top of the table for the first time in their history to book a home play-off with Ulster on Friday night and are now just one game away from making it to back-to-back finals.

They lost out last year on their first PRO12 crown when they were defeated 34-12 by Leinster.

However, Gregor has urged his side to recreate the atmosphere they experienced at the stage before that as they edged Munster 16-15 in last year's thrilling semi-final.

He said: "We're not really thinking about last year's final right now.

"If there's a reference point it is last year's semi-final with the effort that we put in and the feeling we got after it when we got the win.

"I can already feel the anticipation and edge from the players we got then again now that we are back here in that same position.

"Normally when you are in that environment you see the players performing really well.

"Our home record is good but will that give us a psychological boost? Who knows. We are strong at home but last year we only won the semi-final by a point so we know we will have to put in more than we have done in any home game this year."

Friday night's clash will also double as skipper Alastair Kellock's Scotstoun farewell before he retires.

Backs Nikola Matawalu and DTH van der Merwe are also moving on in the summer but Gregor is certain his players will not be caught up in the occasion.

"I think there will be a lot of positive emotions going round," he said. "I felt it was a joyous place last week in our last league game with Ulster when the tries started coming and the fans started responding to what the players were doing on the field.

"We're hoping for a similar atmosphere this time.

"We've had celebrations for players like Dougie Hall and Al Kellock who are retiring at the end of the campaign.

"We're glad we have done that because the focus now is all on the semi-final. We will then deal with what happens after that after the game."