Chris Cusiter looking for Glasgow to use Ulster win as springboard

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 23:11

CHRIS Cusiter has warned Glasgow against letting standards slip when they return to the Heineken Cup in a far more confident state than when they left it two months ago.

• Chris Cusiter and his Glasgow team-mates face some crucial matches this month

The Scotland scrum-half came off the bench in last week's win away to Ulster which hoisted Glasgow to top spot in the Magners League, a morale-boosting and unique position at this time in the season for Sean Lineen's side.

Coming just weeks after Scotland beat Australia at Murrayfield, and with Edinburgh tucked in behind in second in the league, it underlines the real feeling of promise within the Scottish pro game. But, as Cusiter prepares to face his two main rivals for the Scotland No9 jersey in Rory Lawson at Gloucester and Edinburgh's Mike Blair in the space of the next four games, he is acutely aware of how quickly such hope can slip through the fingers.

Glasgow were at the same point in the Heineken Cup this time last year, with two defeats ruining hopes of a Heineken Cup quarter-final spot, and then started to slide in the Magners League. But Glasgow appear a stronger squad this term and, if they can beat English opposition home and away, they could yet finish second in the pool and claim one of the new trap-door entries into the Amlin Challenge Cup, thus ensuring a first European quarter-final to look forward to after the Six Nations.

Glasgow skipper Alastair Kellock is still missing with a neck strain and flu, but while Cusiter returns, John Barclay retains the Glasgow captaincy after impressing Lineen with his leadership ability at Ravenhill. Cusiter is happy with that and is impressed by the development of a player still just 23. "I've never captained Glasgow and I am happy because John is doing well and it allows me to concentrate on my game," he said. "To go to Ulster and win comprehensively in the end was a massive step forward, but we're in a tough place after losing our first two games (in the Heineken Cup], so we have a lot to prove in this tournament and we have to start by targeting a win this week.

"I don't think you can go from the level of performance we showed last week, then just not bother for two weeks and then come back (for the games with Edinburgh]; we have to put performances in back-to-back to challenge in Europe and the Magners League. Glasgow struggled over the winter period last year and lost a lot of points in the league, so December and January are huge months for us."

Lineen has been trying to find the right balance between using the Magners position to boost confidence ahead of the double-header with Gloucester, coached by Scots Bryan Redpath and Carl Hogg, but struggling in the Guinness Premiership, and keeping feet on the ground. Changing training and coaching ideas for this month of games has been a part of that.

He stated: "We have changed a few things since our first run of league games and people don't always like change, but the way the players have responded has been good and showed in how they completely dominated the second-half against Ulster, in horrendous conditions.

"Gloucester are a good team and when you look at what they've got as individuals – Lesley Vainikolo, Greg Somerville, an All Black of 60-odd caps, James Simpson-Daniel – you see what they're capable of. There are some good Scottish match-ups at scrum-half, blindside flanker and hooker, and they are highlighting this game as one to get back on track after winning against Newcastle.

"It's going to be a real physical battle, but we're bubbling up – blood has been spilt this week. We're top of the Magners League and that's fantastic. We're realistic. We know there are only four points between first and seventh and we have played some weakened teams, though sometimes without four, five or six of our internationalists, but the message now is that we need to play like a team that is top of the Magners League.

"We're part of a league that does well in the Heineken Cup and have developed confidence that we now need to take into Europe. I would love to be in Europe at the end of the six games – that would be a massive achievement."

In other changes to Glasgow's side, Dan Turner comes in for Tim Barker at lock and Peter Murchie, the summer signing from London Welsh, is back from a broken wrist and replaces SRU academy talent Alex Dunbar on the left wing, shifting Thom Evans across to the right, where he is likely to face England's former rugby league player Lesley Vainikolo.

Johnnie Beattie, the Scotland No8, is nursing a groin injury while stand-off Ruaridh Jackson will play another hour for Ayr this weekend, after being described, not unexpectedly, as "rusty" in his first game back after three months out injured. However, with youngsters Barclay, Richie Gray, Moray Low and Jon Welsh among the burgeoning Glasgow talents stepping up, the crucial forward battle tomorrow night promises to be a gripping one for the Firhill support.

"I've been told millions of times in the past week that there's only one way to go (now that we're top], but the guys have worked hard and are buzzing at the moment," said Lineen, dismissing the Scots' penchant for pulling someone down from lofty ambitions.

"We want and have to keep winning in what is a massive December, in these games with Gloucester and then two great top of the Magners League matches with Edinburgh."