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Glasgow beat Ulster in Belfast last season. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
In form

Townsend's ambitious Glasgow to test Ulster's resilience in Belfast

The Warriors have started the season with five consecutive wins and the former Scotland out-half deserves much of the credit.

THERE’S BEEN SOMETHING special building in Glasgow over the last two seasons, and few neutrals would begrudge the Scots their first Pro12 title at the conclusion of the 2014/15 campaign.

Gregor Townsend’s side have targeted improved performances in Europe too, but before those efforts begin against Bath in two weekends’ time, the Warriors visit Ulster this evening for a potentially excellent league encounter [KO 17.05].

Glasgow secured a 13-12 win in what was then Ravenhill last season, before dispatching Ulster on a 27-9 scoreline in Scotland in April.

This time around, Townsend and his charges arrive after five wins in five games, three of those with try-scoring bonus points, and deservedly top the Pro12 table after a strong start.

We’re in a good place, unbeaten so far,” agrees Warriors scrum-half Henry Pyrgos. “I think there’s a lot of things we can still work on, but it’s great to be top of the table and confidence is high.”

Pyrgos is back in Glasgow’s starting team for this evening’s clash, having seen Fijian Niko Matawalu get the nod in the nine jersey for last weekend’s victory over Treviso in Italy.

Such is life in Townsend’s group, where squad rotation is one of the foundations of the philosophy. Indeed, only two players who started against Treviso are retained in the XV to face Ulster this evening.

Ahead of that clash in Italy, Townsend and his coaching team had made nine changes. It’s not simply an early-season modus operandi, but a unique element of the Glasgow way that lasts into the latter stages of the campaign.

Gregor Townsend Townsend enjoys an excellent reputation in the coaching world. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“It’s obviously tough, you want to be playing every week,” says Pyrgos of the rotation. “That’s how it goes, but I think it’s working well for us. You know that when you get your opportunities that you’ve got to play well.

“When you’re getting rested, and someone else comes in and plays well, it’s good for the club. The coaches obviously have a plan, we don’t really get told. It’s down to performances as well, it’s not always just in and out of the team.”

Competition for places is a well-worn cliché at this stage, but it does appear that Glasgow have managed to foster an environment in which it is a reality.

Townsend has guided the Warriors into a Pro12 final and semi-final in his first two seasons in charge, losing to Leinster in both those games.

The 41-year-old is enjoying a growing reputation as an innovative and intelligent coach within the game, as well as a man who gets the very best from his players.

He’s brilliant,” admits Scotland international Pyrgos. “He’s obviously got huge pedigree in the game, he was a great player. Being a 10, it’s great for me being a nine, I can learn a lot off him.

“He’s been great for our attacking game, there’s real clarity there in what we’re doing and it’s a really exciting brand of rugby that we’re trying to play. I think the players really buy into it and enjoy it.”

“He’s very hands-on with the players, he’s out there on the training pitch improving us. He’s done a lot of work with the players trying to improve skill levels and trying to expand our game and how we want to play.”

Nick Williams and Johann Muller tackle Henry Pyrgos Pyrgos gets wrapped up at Ravenhill last season. Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO / Darren Kidd/INPHO

The Glasgow style of rugby has made many sit up and pay attention, given the eye-catching offloading ability and ambition that ensures they pose a constant threat. Beyond those initially engaging features is a side who are striving to develop genuine variety.

Townsend doesn’t want his side to simply be offload merchants, but instead to have the ability to kick for territory with composure, carry strongly in close quarters, strike from deep at pace, and bully the opposition up front.

The signs so far this season bode well, and Ulster – who Pyrgos calls “a huge team in our league” – look certain to have to deal with their most demanding challenge yet in this campaign, as Neil Doak gets his official reign as head coach underway.

“I think we’re trying to play this fast-tempo, offloading game, but at the same time you can’t be too loose,” says Pyrgos.

“You make mistakes at this level and it costs you. So we want to play at a high tempo, but we’ve got to have structure and accuracy in there as well. We’re trying to develop that and get more consistency there.”

Ulster: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy Bowe; Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt.), Wiehahn Herbst; Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Lewis Stevenson, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Stuart Olding, Craig Gilroy.

Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie, Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Euan Murray; Tim Swinson, Leone Nakarawa; Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss (capt.).

Replacements: Dougie Hall, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Adam Ashe, Niko Matawalu, James Downey, Sean Lamont.

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