Heineken Cup: Bath 23 - 18 Glasgow: Everything but victory for Glasgow

Many of Glasgow’s internationals shone in defeat and, two weeks before Scotland’s Six Nations opener against England, Robinson was given reasons to be pleased with the form of Chris Cusiter, Johnny Barclay and Rory Lamont in particular.

Lamont held the side together during a patchy first half, while a 20-minute period of the second half, inspired by Barclay and Cusiter, was up to the highest standards of Heineken Cup rugby.

Ultimately it was not enough, as two soft tries, an interception and a lineout drive kept Bath in the game, despite the Glasgow fightback. The English side closed the result out with two late Ollie Barkley penalties.

It was an encouraging overall performance by Glasgow in finishing second in the pool thanks to their two losing bonus points in the final games against Leinster and Bath, but not winning either put paid to their hopes of a European knockout game for the first time since losing a quarter-final play-off to Leinster in the 1997-8 season.

As it happens, other results over the weekend did not go their way, so this result was not the one which cost them.

The overall pattern of Bath using their scrum and driving lineout was good practice for Scots, who can expect more of the same from England at Murrayfield.

Glasgow were dealt a blow when captain Al Kellock left the pitch early through illness.

Cusiter felt there were lessons from this season’s near miss in Europe.

“We showed our character in the second half to play the way we did, really upped our intensity and got ourselves to 18-17 playing really good stuff and it was frustrating they managed to go on and win the game because we had done so well to get back ahead,” he said.

“That 20-minute period in the second half was the best we have attacked for a few weeks. The pace and intensity – they couldn’t live with it for those 20 minutes but unfortunately the game is not played over 20 minutes.

“It is trying to get us as a squad playing with that intensity. It is hard work and it is tiring, but they could not live with it, so we have to replicate that for 80 minutes and then we can win at places like this.

“We have played well in part of this Heineken Cup, but I genuinely thought we had a squad who could have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup or the Amlin and we did not do that.

“We have to look at that and why we were not good enough when it mattered.”

Glasgow have plenty to build on and, in a way, even the disappointment is a sign of progress because losing in Bath would have been taken for granted a few seasons ago

Now attention turns now to Scotland, with the players meeting today in St Andrew’s.

Cusiter is hoping he did enough to impress Robinson that he can earn the No 9 jersey against England.

“I’m happy with the way I’m playing at the moment and really keen to get the jersey,” he said. “It was good that Andy was here, watching.”

Cusiter had played a major role in the first Glasgow try, scored by right wing Tommy Seymour, replacement outside half Scott Wight giving the scoring pass after Duncan Weir had failed to take his chance to impress Robinson. Barclay made the break for the second try, giving the scoring pass to Rob Harley.

While that period of play was impressive, what was disappointing was the way Bath were able to control the closing minutes and two Barkley penalties made the game safe after Glasgow had taken an 18-17 lead.