Glasgow Warriors v Lyon European Champions Cup Double Header 8th and 15th December

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Well the Euros are upon us again and Glasgow, after losing their first game at home, which is usually a death sentence in this competition, are now definitely looking forward to these two games, which could provide a route towards qualification to the knockouts. Yet even in that first defeat to the mighty Saracens, there looked to be a bit more about the Warriors than has been seen in Europe recently. They went toe to toe with the big boys and were not found lacking, Sarries knew they had been in a game for sure.

Glasgow really got their mojo back against Cardiff in the second match of the series, not only winning, but doing it in their swashbuckling style that everyone loves to watch. In truth they have not really looked back since then and have continued to play with style and a physical edge that has not always been there over the past few seasons. It is a potent blend and is getting results. The bad run of injuries that we had at the beginning of the season is also abating thankfully, with important players like Hogg, Swinson and the Nuke now all back up and running. Glasgow will be approaching this game with confidence, they know how to win on the road and if they win these two games, will be in a very good position to qualify.

Lyon, who are in their first Euro competition, made the cardinal mistake of underestimating their opposition and consequently lost their first home game to the Blues, they followed that up with a more predictable loss to Sarries away and so with two loses from two games, are as good as out of the comp already.

What this does to their motivation is hard to guess. French teams don't like to lose at home but equally are not paid up subscribers to lost causes either and the Top 14 will undoubtedly be their main focus for the rest of this season now. They will be dangerous though, especially if they stay in the game. Like all French sides, they will have a big powerful pack that will grind you down if you let them. They will not be used to the pace that Glasgow can play the game at though and may possibly lose interest in the game if they go badly behind, as they really won't have anything else to play for. If they lose at home, expect them to send a much weakened team back to Glasgow for the return a week later.

Glasgow main problem and it is a good one to have, is who to pick for this game. They have so many players on good form, there is genuine competition for places right across the team. Here goes with my selection:

1. Keeble
2. Brown
3. Rae
4. Gray
5. Harley (though a toss up between him and Swinson after the weekend)
6. Wilson
7. Gibbins
8. Fagerson M
9. Horne G
10. Hastings
11. DTH
12. McDowell (this is going to be the controversial pick, but he is playing out of his skin)
13. Jones H
14. Seymour
15. Hogg

Subs:

Bhatti (Allen is going to be on the naughty step for a few weeks)
Turner
Nuke
Swinson
Ashe (also pushing very hard for a starting spot)
Price
Horne P
Grigg/Niko (I can't decide on this one, both in tremendous form)

Glasgow went a bit off the boil after that first 20 mins.

Gibbins in the bin for the next 5 mins of second half and Turner carried off. Could be running short of hookers soon at this rate.

We will be playing into the wind now, so need to keep the ball more than that half

Lyon start the second half well and score

18-10 Glasgow

Weather looks brutal over in the west end!

Another penalty for Hastings.

Good decision to take the points, we need to win the game first

Credit to Lyon - they've certainly not rolled over like a lot of French teams would have. Weather has certainly been a real leveller though.

lyon pick up a red card, elbow to Hastings face

Another ref might have given a yellow but you can justify a red

Niko manages to turn the ball over in a ruck, how does he do it?

The red was tough, but that is the law these days

Well a win but no BP.

We should not really be so disappointed about that playing in those conditions, that was about as bad as it gets. I still think that one more win will get us through.

Credit to Lyon, not Lille as our idiot commentators kept sayin, who kept on playing even though there was nothing in it for them. They will likely become a much better European side with a bit more experience

Those conditions were about as bad as it gets.

You could see Gibbins whilst waiting to come back on, he had a coat on and a hot water bottle down the back of his neck and you could see his teeth chattering. When the ref was talking to him later, I think when the red card was going on, he had his hands tucked under his armpits to try and retain some feeling in them.

Edinburgh beating Newcastle tomorrow would do Glasgow an enormous favour. I think then 4 maybe 5 points should do it. Cardiff Blues at home should be a very achievable bonus point for Glasgow conditions allowing. With a winner takes all potential battle to come against Saracens looking quite tasty as there's really no love lost between the two sides.

Delighted with that - the conditions would have been diabolical by the sounds of it. We are measuring up against the competition fairly well and consistently this year, particularly given that we're rotating the team a lot.

I do expect a good result against the Blues and then we'll see how the SarrieGirls get on.

An important result for us last night was Gloucester losing at home to Exeter. It know looks like everyone is going to take points off each other in that group. If Castres manage to beat Munster at home, which is entirely possible, that will make it better still.

Results elsewhere have been good for Glasgow today, a win for Edinburgh tomorrow would put both teams within touching distance. In fact I think if they get a bonus point win against Cardiff it will as good as guarantee qualification. Although Cardiff are no mugs and I think Scotland's woeful international record against Welsh teams means that I'll always be wary of Welsh opposition. That said the Welsh teams have been utterly dreadful in the Champions cup this year.

I don't know what that looked like on television, but being there that had to be some of the consistently worst weather to play rugby in I can remember. So plaudits to both teams for trying to play rugby.

And one final point. I don't know if they could be heard on television, but just in front of me and my daughter were two kids, who produced a set of bagpipes each and proceeded to play a variety of tunes at points throughout the game. I'm no expert, but these kids were good. And any excuse to stamp your feet in that cold was to be welcomed!

What did Gibbons get his yellow for?  Likely to get a suspension?

Nothing major. Just a bit of handbags when he pushed a hand into the face.

He will feel a bit stupid but that will be the end of it.

Conditions were awful. Without the artificial pitch It would never have got played. I bet they still feel cold now!

ta

https://twitter.com/HRFJones/status/1074013602393280512?s=19

Niko, where are you?:

I don't think DR was to impressed. He hooked him shortly afterwards!