Barclay banking on Glasgow to create Champions Cup history

Glasgow can break new ground and make the latter stages of the Investec Champions Cup for the first time in their history, believes the club’s former flanker and ex-Scotland captain John Barclay.

Warriors enjoyed a third successive bonus-point win when they beat Clermont Auvergne 33-21 at the Stade Marcel-Michelin on Saturday, following earlier victories against Sale Sharks and Toulouse in December.

That win in France ensured their progress to the last 16 and they sit top of Pool 1 with a maximum 15 points ahead of a final group game against Saracens at Scotstoun next Sunday, 18 January.

Any win for Glasgow will ensure they finish top of the pool but a fourth straight bonus-point win would ensure they progress as one of the top two seeds heading into the last 16, with the promise of home advantage through the knockout rounds.

Last season, Franco Smith’s side thumped Leicester 43-19 at home in the last 16 but, missing several key players, were smashed 52-0 by Leinster in Dublin in the last eight, their third quarter-final defeat in the elite European competition, having lost twice previously to next opponents Saracens, in 2016-17 (38-13) and 2018-19 (56-27).

But Barclay believes Glasgow are well placed to go at least a stage further this time given their form over the first three rounds. “I think they may progress past the quarter-finals this year,” he said. “Last year they had one of their worst defeats when they got hammered by Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. “But this is probably the first time they could not only top the pool but also could be top seeds going into the knockout stages.

“What has impressed me most about Glasgow of late is their ability to stick to their guns, whether it is going well or going badly. Even when they were 14-0 down to Sale, and then 21-0 down to Toulouse, they looked like a team that are very together. They know exactly how they are trying to play the game.

“They are lucky they have not got many injuries at the moment; they have got pretty much a full squad to pick from. They have probably benefitted a bit from the disappointment Scotland have endured in the Six Nations and in particular, the autumn Tests [when they lost at home to New Zealand and Argentina, having led 21-0 against the Pumas].

“I definitely sense a slightly bristly attitude to them, a feeling of ‘we have got to start delivering at some point’. They have got a great squad and had a number of players on the British & Irish Lions tour last summer.

“They look like a team which is confident and knows how they are trying to play the game. It’s a huge challenge against Saracens and they can’t look too far ahead, but you could forgive them for thinking this is certainly the year they could go past the quarter-finals.”

With second-placed Sale travelling to face a Toulouse side still needing a victory in their final pool fixture to secure their own passage to the last 16, Glasgow could still top Pool 1 even with a losing bonus point.

Saracens, who bolstered their own hopes of qualification by beating Toulouse 20-14 on Sunday, will travel north intent on securing a better seeding in the knockout stages at a venue where they have twice won pool matches in the past.

“One thing for sure is Glasgow will bring physicality, so the challenge for us is to up it again,” captain Maro Itoje told Premier Sports. “It is an opportunity for us to make some memories.

“Glasgow are a very good team. They beat Toulouse as well, so it is going to be a great contest, but one we are looking forward to.”

John Barclay is part of the Premier Sports team showing every game live in the Investec Champions Cup. Glasgow v Saracens kicks off at 17:30 GMT on Sunday, 18 January.