Glasgow coach Sean Lineen insists his side were not outplayed in the 22-18 home loss to Biarritz in their opening Heineken Cup game.
Coach claims Warriors lost because of lineout
Glasgow coach Sean Lineen insists his side were not outplayed in the 22-18 home loss to Biarritz in their opening Heineken Cup Pool Two game.
The coach vented his frustration at the outcome of a match that began with Glasgow taking an early lead only to be dragged back to 12-12 at the break.
The Warriors were kicked ahead by Dan Parks soon after the restart but the game took a turn in the 50th minute on the only try of the match, with referee Wayne Barnes requiring the help of the video referee before he awarded the score.
"We lost it. We were not outplayed," said Lineen.
"They didn't win it. And we lost it thanks to the lineout and the baffling thing is that has been the one consistently strong area of our game all season."
Glasgow had problems from the start of the second half and in the 50th minute lock Tim Barker was only able to palm the ball back five metres from his line.
Biarritz flanker Magnus Lund and home scrum-half Colin Gregor both dived to touch it down but the nod was given to Lund by the TV judge.
"It has all come down to that one lineout in our 22 that we didn't control. It's going to haunt us," added Lineen.
"The boys never stopped and played great rugby at times.
"They just couldn't break that very, very strong defence."
Praise
Lineen reserved special praise for Parks, who missed only one penalty while steering over a drop goal and five penalties for all of Glasgow's points.
The Warriors next face a Magners League visit to Newport to meet with the Dragons, who took a point in defeat at Gloucester in their Heineken Cup opener.
"After the opening results this will be interesting. I'm looking forward to taking the boys down there," said Lineen.
"However, we've picked up more injuries in the backs with centre Rob Dewey injuring an ankle, winger DTH Van Der Merwe going off at half-time due to a knee problem and full-back Bernie Stortoni suffering a leg knock."
Biarritz co-coach John Isaac expressed satisfaction with his side's slender win.
"We're very happy with that win. I feel this could be a key match in what looks to be a tight group," said Isaac.
"When we were in the same pool a couple of seasons ago we lost here.
"Glasgow have a good set of backs and very mobile forwards and are by no means out of a pool that will spring surprises."
When asked about the deliberated try, Isaacs was unsurprisingly behind the decision that was made.
"We asked the boys to tighten set-piece in the second half and that became the key to the match," he said.
"There might be some doubt about the try but not in Magnus' mind; he says he
clearly had control ahead of the Glasgow defender."
Biarritz next face Gloucester at home, with Isaac reporting no injury problems from the Glasgow clash but anticipating a tense game.
"With us being at home we naturally become favourites which brings its own pressures," he added.
