With three straight wins in Europe, Glasgow are safely into the Round of 16 with a chance of home advantage all the way through to the semi-finals.
"Glasgow Warriors are the dark horses this season."
That was the view put forward by former Scotland international Jim Hamilton in the wake of Glasgow's third straight bonus-point win in the Champions Cup with a brilliant away performance at Clermont Auvergne.
Warriors' place in the knockout stages is secure and they can now look forward to a mouthwatering clash with three-times European champions Saracens next Sunday knowing a win will see them top Pool 1.
That would mean their Round of 16 tie would be at Scotstoun and there is a potential route for Warriors all the way to the semi-finals playing their knockout ties with home advantage.
Glasgow have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions, and been hammered each time – twice by Saracens, and last season by Leinster.
The performances and nature of the victories away at Sale and at home over the six-times champions Toulouse raised expectations that perhaps this is the season Franco Smith's side breaks new ground in the Champions Cup, and the win at Clermont only adds to that.
Victories on French soil are always hard-earned, particularly for Scottish sides. This one was no different, even if, for 50 minutes or so, it looked like Warriors were cruising.
They looked a cut above their opponents, superior in every department as they ran in four tries, wrapped up the bonus point by half-time and, leading 26-7, appeared in complete control.
Glasgow were a glorious mix of grisly aggression, rapier speed and unerring accuracy.
Huw Jones, in his first appearance of the season having been out since the summer Lions tour with an Achilles injury, looked like he had not missed a beat.
"Huw Jones looks like he's got even quicker," remarked former Scotland captain John Barclay on commentary for Premier Sports.
Jones' prints were all over Glasgow's scintillating attacking play in that first half. He showed electric pace to burst through for his try, Glasgow's second. His deft little kick over the defence led to Kyle Steyn's first try, and his velvet hands helped tee up Jack Dempsey to crash over for Glasgow's fourth.
Throw in his 10 carries for 78 metres made and five defenders beaten, and it was a superb return to action for Jones, and one that will no doubt delight Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend as the Six Nations hoves into view.
There were plenty of big individual performances in a huge collective effort. Dempsey topped the carries with 14, Euan Ferrie was the top tackler with 18, while Dan Lancaster, deputising for the injured Adam Hastings at 10, looked at home marshalling Glasgow's star-studded backline.
"With Adam Hastings rumoured to be heading to Montpellier in the summer, could Dan Lancaster be the man in the 10 jersey going forward for Glasgow?" said Barclay.
"On this evidence he looks very comfortable in this set-up."
The fireworks of the attacking play of the first-half would have delighted Smith, but it's perhaps how his side managed the tough moments, when they lost Patrick Schickerling and George Horne to the sin bin and Clermont were coming back strong, that would have pleased him most.
His leaders stepped up, with the Fagerson brothers, Zander and Matt, getting through a power of work, as did Alex Craig and Scott Cummings in the second row.
Sione Tuipulotu seemed to want his hands on the ball even more in that 10 minutes, like he felt a personal responsibility to keep carrying the fight straight into the yellow wall.
Steel and style, Glasgow had them both in abundance and what a platform they have now given themselves in this tournament.
Dark horses to win the thing? That would seem a stretch given it was only in April that their last Champions Cup campaign ended in a 52-0 obliteration at the hands of Leinster.
The Irish side are among a handful of elites that would seem to be a level above the rest of Europe.
But a first ever semi-final appearances for the Warriors? If they continue to perform as they have done so far in the Champions Cup this season, why not?
Category: General Sports
