European Champions Cup: Gregor Townsend rues lack of bonus point in Glasgow win
Sunday 18 January 2015 17:36, UK
Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend was disappointed his side did not take a bonus point against a Montpellier side against whom they have recorded a Champions Cup double.
Warriors ran out 21-10 winners against the French team at a frozen Scotstoun Stadium to enahnce their bid to qualify for the quarter-finals of the top European tournament for the first time.
But they rued a string of missed scoring opportunities which deprived them of what could prove to be a vital bonus point in their battle for a for a top-two finish in Pool Four.
"It was frustrating to spurn so many chances to score tries," said Townsend.
"I think when you go up against a French team and win you should be really happy - and that's us done the double over them, but as you can tell we are disappointed by how we didn't make the most of our opportunities."
DTH van der Merwe scored a hat-trick of tries for Glasgow but they fell short of collecting the valuable fourth try due to handling errors.
Townsend's team now face what looks set to be a decisive final-round showdown with Bath at The Rec next weekend.
"Maybe it was over eagerness, or our accuracy or decision-making in that last 22, but it wasn't at the level it needed to be today to get the victory we wanted," said Townsend.
"When you create so many opportunities and put pace on the ball and get down into their half, then it's about outworking the opposition and tries or penalties will come. But we maybe rushed things too much and didn't get in our right shape which proved costly."
Canada international Van der Merwe, who became only the second Glasgow player to score a hat-trick in the Champions Cup, also felt that "silly mistakes" had let them down.
He said: "In the first half we didn't stick to the basic things which get you the tries. We went wide a number of times and maybe our eyes were too big which cost us in the end with silly mistakes."
