‘An absolute doin’ – that is the only way you can describe Glasgow’s defeat at the Allianz Park on Saturday.

The men in black were absolutely ruthless and Glasgow found little joy all afternoon bar two scores bookending what was otherwise a demolition.

Saracens are a world class side and very easily could be champions of Europe but when you gift the ball back to them, miss opportunities to give yourselves some breathing space or just make so many mistakes, you’re never going to get anywhere close to them. Simply put, it was a very, very poor performance and questions must be asked.



Now Saracens do have a wealth of talent at their disposal and they do have a wage bill and indeed a debt that would make the SRU’s eyes water at the mere thought of trying to match it. In all honesty, it would be unmanageable for them. So financially we know that we can’t catch them.



But Glasgow, in my own opinion, are simply not good enough to compete with many of the big sides and for that, the coaches and players must come under scrutiny.

‘I’m starting to have my doubts about Dave Rennie’

I’m going to be controversial for a minute. Now I’m not a coach or even an ex-player so I know my opinions don’t count for much but here goes.

Rennie came with a huge reputation having led the Chiefs to Super Rugby titles and there was talk of the South Africans, Kiwi’s and now the Aussies wanting him for their national jobs. But in all honesty, I don’t think he’s yet hit the heights with Glasgow that any of us thought he would.

If he wins the PRO14 this season I will happily retract all I’m about to say and issue a public apology to Dave.

I don’t feel he’s pushed us on to the level that I expected. Glasgow have been a play-off side for the last few years apart from Toony’s last season and have been there or thereabouts consistently and without a big few weeks, a play-off is the best we can hope for again.

I’d hoped that Rennie would get us closer to these big sides and pushing them all the way but it just doesn’t feel to me like it’s going to happen. We struggle against Edinburgh, we ultimately lost to Munster, we’ve got tough

games against Ulster, Leinster and Edinburgh to come and I don’t see us picking up three wins in those games in all honesty, allowing Munster to take the top spot and most likely an extra game to play.

That’s not good enough given the gap they had created. I’m not saying he should be sacked or that I want him out before anyone thinks this is a witch hunt. I’m just saying I’ve been left generally pretty flat by his tenure to this point.

Now in his second season, Rennie (or possibly Scottish Rugby, in fairness) have failed to strengthen in key areas and in almost all the big games, they’ve paid the price. Almost everyone can see that the pack is not strong enough to take bigger sides on. It’s light in the second row and it’s lacking a big ball-carrying number eight.

In addition, it’s probably missing another quality flanker. Glasgow had a wide range of real quality back rows to choose from but in my opinion that has dwindled and is badly in need to reinforcement. John Hardie would have done a superb job in this side, maybe one of the many Edinburgh have available to them but no, we signed Tevita Tameilau, a player who has barely featured.

Take the recent Scotland game against England. Only 5 Warriors players involved overall and none in the starting pack. Sure there were injuries and players returning from injury but Glasgow have dominated the Scotland squad in recent seasons so there is obviously some issue.

Even Jonny Gray is struggling for form and that is not like him at all. Where has the bite gone from the Glasgow pack?

Comparisons to ‘powder-puff’ Edinburgh

Richard Cockerill took a lightweight, powder-puff Edinburgh side and has turned them into a snarling, snapping unit that has a combination of skill, power and fight.

They’ve battered and bullied Glasgow on four occasions under Cockers and the change in them is substantial. Would you want to go back into the dressing room to an enraged Richard

Cockerill after the pack have thrown the game away? Not a chance. Under Rennie? We just don’t seem to see that side at all and it shows in the squad on the park. We’re too nice. Munster, Ulster, Leinster, Sarries, Edinburgh, Montpellier, Exeter…they all have ferocious packs that strike fear into the hearts of their opponents and all have turned us over without major issue in recent seasons.

We have players who fit our game plan but when they’re outmuscled, they don’t have a presence that can get give them that go forward.



Taking issue with Saracens selection

Take his selection against Sarries. Rory Hughes was badly found out time and time again under the high ball and Stuart Hogg, as much as I love the blonde bombshell that he is, shouldn’t have been pitched straight into a game like that given how little time he’s spent on the pitch in the last few

weeks and months and the errors compounded what was a horrible day for the Glaswegians.

I’m not blaming either player for this loss incidentally. This was a collective pummelling and so the whole team must take responsibility.

Time to look to the transfer market?

Wholesale changes aren’t necessarily required, it’s more a matter of signing correctly in the right positions. Or at least showing some action in the market.

Few names have been mentioned in connection with the club and even fewer in those key areas. Edinburgh recently signed five new players to bolster their squad. Guys who, on the face of it, will add greatly to their side but Glasgow have yet to see anything tangible. Is Rennie satisfied with what he has or is it a case of the purse strings not being loosened enough for the Warriors to make key signings?



Or, given the signings made so far, do Scottish Rugby not want to give Rennie any more cash to splash? After all, Masaga, Frisby, Tameilau and Halanukonuka haven’t exactly set the heather alight have they? Masaga has played eight games and scored one try. That’s a very poor return from a player of his supposed standard. We’ve also failed to see the best of Huw Jones and that is a real sore point with many fans.

The ‘fight’ for Guinness PRO14 glory

Glasgow now face a real fight to get to Celtic Park and become the PRO14 Champions. Munster have Cardiff at home, Benetton away and Connacht at home while we face Ulster, Leinster away and then Edinburgh on the final day of the season. Ulster and Edinburgh face a real fight for the remaining

play-off spots.

With Edinburgh playing most of their rivals their qualification hopes may rest on that final day shoot out against the Warriors? If we miss out on top spot and have to face Leinster in Dublin or another game against Edinburgh then I really don’t know if we can do it.

If we don’t make that final or win the competition it will be bitterly disappointing and if there’s another season ticket increase on the back of it then that’s not going to be well received with supporters I should imagine.

Questions will be asked of what we’re getting for our money.