Glasgow Warriors: Peter Horne sees 2015 similarities as Scottish side in a ‘good spot’ to push for glory on two fronts

Adam Kyriacou
Peter Horne

Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Peter Horne sees similarities with the club’s success of 2015 as they continue to push for glory on two fronts.

After booking their place in the Challenge Cup final at the expense of the Scarlets, the Warriors now turn their attention to the United Rugby Championship.

Standing in their path at the quarter-final stage this weekend is Munster, who visit Scotstoun Stadium to face a Glasgow side who are purring at the moment.

Similarities to 2015 success

Coming into the fixture on the back of securing a first European final appearance, Horne believes there are vibes of their PRO12 title season about this side.

“Absolutely. We spoke about it a little bit with a couple of the older boys who are still kicking about,” he said, with Glasgow tackling Munster this Saturday.

“There was times that year, in 2015, when we were flying but we had a couple of games before the final where we weren’t perfect.

“The semi-final against Ulster, we didn’t play well at all but we hung in there and we found a way to win, and there’s definitely some parallels to that.

“I feel we are in a good spot.

“Our game is going really well, we are defending really well, we are fit and we are showing a bit of that resilience and the lesson we learned from the weekend will stand us in much better stead.

“You would much rather learn those in a game you come through and winning with 35 points than it happens in a final against a certain opposition who is maybe even better.”

Glasgow will face Toulon in the Challenge Cup final on May 19 after the French side comfortably beat Benetton 23-0 despite having Charles Ollivon sent off.

Horne knows it will be a tough assignment in Dublin against Toulon but stressed that the Warriors’ only focus right now is Munster in this weekend’s clash.

Focus is only on Munster

“It is knockout rugby,” he said ahead of the United Rugby Championship showdown. “We are not getting too excited.

“They (Toulon) were very good playing with 14 men against Benetton who didn’t even trouble them. It was one-way traffic the whole game.

“They will be in a good spot. They are a big physical team but we back ourselves.

“We think that we have game to beat anyone we just have to turn up and do our job on the day.

“But we haven’t spoken about it at all since the changing room after the (Scarlets) game. The focus turns to Munster and keep fighting on both fronts.”

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