No more Heineken hard luck stories warns Glasgow Warriors prop

Oct 9 2008 By Matthew Leslie

WARRIORS ace Justin Va'a doesn't want any more hard luck Euro stories on the eve of their Heineken Cup campaign.

Last season, two costly errors against Saracens denied Sean Lineen's men a place in the quarterfinals but accolades still poured in for Glasgow given their spirited display.

After all, a win against French cracks Biarritz is not something to be sneezed at - although the return in the Basque Country saw the Warriors come within a minute of a memorable double which would have booked a last eight place.

But as Va'a states that was last year and if Glasgow are to show they are the real deal in Europe, the 'what ifs' will not do this time around.

He said: "This time last year many were saying that it would be great if at worst we took it to the last game.

"Given the club's previous record in the Heineken Cup, that was understandable - we did do that but it still hurt as two mistakes ensured Saracens went through and not us.

"If we want to show we've learned from that campaign, then a place in the quarter-finals is the bare minimum in order to show we're progressing.

"I know that this season's group is tougher than last year's but you have to beat these teams at some point to be successful."

The Warriors have drawn last year's runners-up Toulouse, the 1998 champs Bath and fellow Magners side Newport Gwent/Dragons who until the last two encounters, were a bogey team for Glasgow.

Va'a added: "This time will be different because we've now laid our Dragons bogey to rest - not to say we can take anything for granted as if you're not on your game they can punish you.

"Dragons are a clever team in that they know how to slow the ball down and know how to play the referees so we've got to keep the mouth shut as refs will penalise the team that's always talking too much.

"Hopefully the conditions will be good as our backs showed against the Scarlets what they can do when they get the ball and if we can win the battle up front, it could be a very good afternoon for us."

When Toulouse's name came out of the hat many probably feared - with justifiable cause - for Glasgow's life given the talent and power the French side have at their disposal.

But with their visit to Firhill a fortnight away, those same folk are no doubt rubbing their hands in anticipation at the expected arrival of the Real Madrid of rugby.

Va'a continued: "These are the games you want to play in and while we would have preferred to meet them later on in the tournament, the boys can't wait to play them.

"This is what it's all about - testing yourself against the best there is plus it's one for all the fans to look forward too because they are a quality side.

"But the Dragons come first and there might not be a Toulouse match for some of us if we fail to win.

"As for Bath, they've made a good start to their season as they're top of the English Premiership and have a quality fly-half in Butch James who has a superb kicking game.

"I know this only too well from last year's World Cup when Samoa played South Africa and as soon as we made some ground, Butch would pin us back in our 22."

Meanwhile, Warriors wing ace Thom Evans will will be fit for the Dragons game after suffering a facial injury during last weekend's 25-17 defeat at Munster.