Dave Rennie and the Glasgow Warriors “haven’t even talked” about their record run of wins to start the Guinness PRO14 and just simply teeing up the next one.
It’s the Cardiff Blues at Scotstoun tonight as the Warriors go for ten in a row, with the club record already smashed. Last week’s crushing win over Ospreys means that Glasgow lead the Welsh region – thought to be one of their big rivals and a play-off contender – by 32 points before December is in.
The visit of the Blues sees Rennie bring back a handful of his internationalists – including Alex Dunbar who missed last week’s thrashing of the Wallabies due to a head knock – but aim for the same kind of intensity.
“We haven’t talked about (the record) at all,” said Rennie. “In fact, I wasn’t aware of it until you just mentioned it.
“We’re just trying to get better every week. What we were most happy about last week was that we were missing a lot of guys but we never really talked about that during the week; it was just whoever wears the jersey has to step up and perform, so we’re finding out a lot more about some of our young men.
“They can take some kudos from last weekend, which is why some of them get another chance to step up this week. We’re starting to create genuine depth and hopefully that competition for places will help us play better each week.”
Rennie admits the young half-back duo of George Horne and Adam Hastings are a little unlucky not to get another chance after both played so wqell in Swansea, but he’s opted for the veteran presence of George’s big brother Peter and Henry Pyrgos.
“I agree the young guys did well last week and they have certainly put pressure on,” said Rennie. “We want to create competition and but the experienced guys have a chance to stamp their authority and create a bit of competition and see who will be in the mix for Montpellier.”
Rennie has taken the rare step of keeping Callum Gibbins as captain even though club captain Ryan Wilson will return at No 8.
“Ryan is keen as you would expect, but from a captaincy point of view ww have decided to stick with Callum this week,” he said.
“To be honest our whole leadership group is the same for continuity so the guys who have come back in can get their heads around our structures again and get stuck in in their individual role rather than organising everyone else.”
Big Tongan prop Siua Halanukonuka will make his first start and home debut, and it’s likely another Scotstoun cult favourite is in the making.
“Siua’s only been playing professional rugby for the last three years, so he’s a late starter, but he’s had a busy time with the Highlanders and Tasman this year,” said Rennie. “He’s a very powerful scrummager who can play both sides, but pretty handy with the ball in hand and he’s very destructive around the park.”
Glasgow Warriors (vs Cardiff Blues, Guinness PRO14, Scotstoun, ko 7.35pm, live on BBC ALBA) R Jackson; L Masaga, A Dunbar, S Johnston, L Sarto; P Horne, H Pyrgos; A Allanm, G Turner, S Halanukonuka; K McDonald, S Cummings; C Gibbins (capt), M Smith, R Wilson. Replacements: J Malcolm, J Bhatti, D Rae, B Alainu’uese, S Vunisa, G Horne, A Hastings, N Matawalu.