“I’m delighted with the result, but dissapointed with the second half” | Rory Darge

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 10: The Warriors squad huddle together at full time during an Investec Champions Cup match between Glasgow Warriors and Racing 92 at Scotstoun Stadium, on January 10, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Rory Darge was in the middle of the pack up front, and he spoke to glasgowwarriors.org after the match to share his thoughts.

“My immediate reaction that I’m delighted with the result but a little disappointed with the second half performance.”

Glasgow were storming ahead in the first half but only got the ball over the line once in the second half.

“It is something we have been working towards, is getting that 80-minute performance,” said Darge, “It is easier said than done, and if anyone had the answer as to why, I’m sure we would solve it straight away.  We are slowly working towards putting out an 80-minute performance.”

George Horne becomes the club’s top European try-scorer chalking up 12 touch downs so far! https://t.co/D4VlodHUPL

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) January 11, 2025

Glasgow Warriors scored five tries through five different players. Speaking of this team mentality to pass the ball on, Darge owes to Franco Smith’s coaching.

“I think it is Franco’s philosophy around rugby.  He really likes coaching teams who have the ability to move the ball around and pass the ball onto someone who is in a better position than you.  When we get that bit right, we are hard to defend.

“I think in that Edinburgh game, we maybe didn’t get that right but certainly tonight in the first half we were doing that and we were really difficult to defend.”

Round of 16 place = booked ✅

Your Warriors are the first team into the knockout stages of the @ChampionsCup – recap how it all unfolded at a sold-out Scotstoun 👇#WhateverItTakes https://t.co/uHKKfAMoTO

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) January 10, 2025

Now that Glasgow are the first team through to the Round of 16, focus moves on to Harlequins next weekend to finish off the pool stages of the Investec Champions Cup.

“We are obviously going to watch back how we defended, and we only scored one try that second half and maybe let them in a bit easy and work out why.

“But it is also important to look at the positives from the game as well.  See what we did well and why it worked and then why Racing got into our 22 and what let them score points and how we can stop teams doing that. That will be on Monday and then we will switch our focus on to Quinns and their press and any opportunities in that.

“We obviously played them away last year as well, so it is a team we know at least a little bit.  I know with most European teams we don’t always know them, but we did have a decent shot at Quinns last year and missed out in the last ten minutes or so.  We are determined to get down there and put on an 80-minute performance.”

This was Glasgow’s first sold out game of the season, and also the coldest game of the season so far. Darge credits the behind the scenes work that goes on to make sure that the game can go ahead.

“The work that goes into making sure the pitch is alright, I’m sure not many people see that work and they don’t see all the work behind the scenes to make sure its ready.

All the staff members at Glasgow pulling together, just it’s people from all departments pulling in, media team, operations team, commercial, rugby, that’s fantastic!

Finally, Darge commented on the support from the Warrior Nation.

“For me, coming here to Scotstoun and running out to the Champions Cup music and a sold-out stadium is just so special. Massive thanks to everyone for coming out on such a cold day!”

Round of 16 place = booked ✅

Your Warriors are the first team into the knockout stages of the @ChampionsCup – recap how it all unfolded at a sold-out Scotstoun 👇#WhateverItTakes https://t.co/uHKKfAMoTO

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) January 10, 2025