Chris Cusiter backing Glasgow Warriors to make final

Chris Cusiter in Edinburgh with the Sevens World Cup, which is touring Scotland Picture: Contributed

Glasgow have twice reached the semi-finals of the tournament, in its first year of the new play-off format in 2009-10 and then last season, but lost both times away to the Ospreys and Leinster respectively. No away semi-finalist has progressed to the final in the past three years and, after losing at Scarlets two weeks ago, Glasgow let Leinster overtake them in the race for a home tie.

Cusiter said: “The squad has changed a lot and I absolutely believe that they could win a semi-final home or away now. They have shown that they can beat any team in the league. It comes down to two big games really and, in the past, we have got over that line and made the top four but haven’t been able to beat Leinster or Ospreys in the semi-finals, so that’s what has to happen this year.

“But I do think that we’re better equipped for it because this is a stronger squad than we’ve ever had and they guys are playing with a lot of confidence, and playing good rugby.

“History tells you you’re better to have a home semi in three years of play-offs, but, in the situation we’re in now, there’s a big likelihood that we won’t have a home semi-final, so we’re going to be going to Ulster or Leinster trying to beat them, but I don’t think that’s an impossible task.”

Friday night’s fine win over the Ospreys clinched Glasgow’s top four slot, but they remain a point behind Leinster with one game to play. The Irishmen have the harder final game on paper, away to Ospreys, while Glasgow face a tricky tie in Galway against Connacht. Some might feel they would be better to lose and finish fourth in the table, as a semi-final at Ulster could be viewed as marginally easier than one in Dublin on Ulster’s current form, but victory coupled with a Leinster loss or draw in Swansea would propel Glasgow to a home semi-final against either Leinster, Scarlets or Ospreys.

Cusiter’s recovery from a shoulder injury last summer stalled in the winter and eventually required an operation this month, which has ruled him out until next season. It ruined his hopes of playing for Scotland this season and pushing his case for a return to the British and Irish Lions jersey he wore in 2005.

Appearing yesterday at the HSBC bank in Edinburgh with the HSBC World Sevens trophy, to help publicise the Glasgow tournament on 5 and 6 May, the scrum-half has had to dig deep into his reserves of mental strength to cope with this latest year on the sidelines.

“It’s still early stages for me,” he said. “I’ve got the sling on most of the time and am just letting it heal, and then I’ll be back on the rehab trail again, which is a bit of a thought having done it for six months already

“I’ll miss the rest of this season and the summer tour, but I hope to be able to hit the ground running for the start of next season. It has been frustrating and, if you’d told me back in September that I wouldn’t be playing for the whole season, then that would have been tough to take.

“The rehab is not enjoyable, to be honest. It’s monotonous, the same every day, you make small steps and, along with that, you’re doing fitness work, which is tough, but I always have the goal in my head that I wanted to get back playing and so this is what I’ve got to do. And I’m lucky, in a way, that I’ve got the opportunity to get back playing, because there are guys we know who have not had that opportunity and been told they can’t play again.

“You always have to look at the positives, and missing this season has not been fun but the positives are that I’ll be back, hopefully at the start of next season, flying and enjoying rugby again.

“So I put myself through it is because I love playing rugby. I don’t have that long left. I’m the wrong side of 30 and you can’t play forever. Missing pretty much a whole season is a precious year in my career that I’ve lost, so I want to make the most of the rest of it.”

One might imagine that his mood has not been helped by the progress of his rival No 9s, Henry Pyrgos having become a Scotland cap this season and Fijian Niko Matawalu taken over the mantle as the Scotstoun favourite. But that has actually buoyed Cusiter.

“I think it’s exciting. Watching Glasgow play this season has been exciting. The way Henry has progressed in the time he’s been at Glasgow is great. His consistency, service and kicking have all stepped up and he’s become a really good professional and international. Personally, it’s been great to see that.

“Niko is a totally different kettle of fish. He’s a totally different player to Henry. Henry can do a lot of things that Niko can’t, but Niko can do a lot of things that no other scrum-half I’ve seen can do, so what he maybe lacks in areas he makes up for with his running ability and the entertainment factor he brings to Scotstoun. Rightly, he’s a crowd favourite and we’re lucky to have him.

“But that doesn’t bother me. I’m pleased that those guys are playing well and, when I return, I’ll throw my hat in the ring and bring something different to what those two guys bring.”

He added: “It’s been hard watching at times because you just want to be part of it, but it was harder when I had my knee injury it wasn’t a good year for Glasgow, and you want to see the club being successful, and this year has been great.

“I won’t allow myself to feel sorry for myself by thinking about what I’m missing out on, because that’s just the way it goes, and, for Glasgow Warriors, this season has been great.

“I’ve seen the crowd increase, sitting in the stand I’ve heard people talking about it, and I’ve spoken to people who had never been to see Glasgow before and have given it a shot and have absolutely loved it.

“From that point of view everything is in good health with Glasgow and it just gives me more incentive to get back.”