Monday 13 October 2014 10:57, UK
Five rounds into the Guinness Pro12 and Glasgow are sitting pretty at the top of the table with five wins out of five. However they are taking nothing for granted as they bid to go one better than they did last year when they lost to Leinster in the final.
Flanker turned centre Richie Vernon, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, is delighted with the start his side has made but knows there is still a long way to go.
“Everything is very good, results-wise we have had a fantastic start but we have some really tough games coming up,” he told skysports.com.
“We realize that there are bigger challenges to come and we are looking forward to the challenge. We have learnt a lot from last season and that will hold us in good stead. We have been to a few semi-finals but last year was the first time we had been to the final. It’s definitely a step-up and while we did play well, Leinster had too much experience and we just fell short. We have had that experience now, though, and that will help us going forward.”
This weekend Glasgow will need every bit of that experience as they travel to Ravenhill to take on Ulster. Last year Glasgow managed to hold on for a 13-12 win and Vernon is expecting another closely fought contest.
“Ulster are always a tough challenge," said Vernon. "Last time we played them we seemed to be defending for most of the game but we held on and just sneaked a result in the end. Ulster have such a complete team and can punish you in so many different ways.
That is definitely something new here at Glasgow, we have always wanted to get better and better but we have never really aspired to be at the top table of European rugby – that is where we want to be now.
“They are really strong upfront and have a very talented backline as well. It is going to be a big challenge for us to contain them and I think the key for Saturday will be our defence. If we defend well then that will make a huge difference.”
Eye on Europe
The next three weeks are key moments for Glasgow. After Ulster they host Bath in round one of the European Rugby Champions Cup before travelling to Montpellier in round two. Success in Europe has thus far evaded them but Vernon says that under coach Gregor Townsend, Glasgow have the belief that they can mix it with the big boys in Europe.
“Gregor has come in and given us a vision of the team and something to inspire too," he said.
"That is definitely something new here at Glasgow, we have always wanted to get better and better but we have never really aspired to be at the top table of European rugby – that is where we want to be now. Every week is another building block to get there – it’s a process that is going to take time but we are all committed to improve as individuals and as a team to get there.”
Glasgow are in a tough pool with Bath, Montpellier and Toulouse, who have won in Europe a record four times, however that has just made Glasgow even more determined.
“When you look at the pool we are in there are teams who have done well in Europe for years and years,” added Vernon, who has won 20 caps for Scotland.
“That is not something that we have done and we feel we have not quite delivered, especially in recent years. We understand that we have to step up the intensity – Bath are playing some lovely rugby at the moment in the Premiership and Montpellier are going well in the Top 14. Toulouse may not be at their best at the moment but you cannot ignore their European pedigree.
"It’s a tough pool but for us it’s brilliant and the team are really excited to be up against these teams. It’s a benchmark for us to see exactly how we are progressing and where we are at. We realize we are going to have to play at our best to get out of this pool.”
