2013–14 Glasgow Warriors season

Glasgow Warriors 2013 / 2014

Ground(s)	Scotstoun Stadium (Capacity: 10,000)
Coach(es)	Gregor Townsend
Captain(s)	Alastair Kellock
Most caps	Rob Harley (28)
Top scorer	Finn Russell (101)
Most tries	Nikola Matawalu (8)
League(s)	Pro 12
2nd (Runners Up)
1st kit 2nd kit
← 2012–13 2014–15 →

Season Overview

Glasgow Warriors hoped that this year they would improve on last season's defeat in the semi-final play-off when they finished 3rd in the Pro12 league.

Al Kellock was named as captain again for the eighth season in a row.^[1]

A row over the future of the Heineken Cup overshadowed the start of the season.^[2] In fact, this was to be the last year of the Heineken Cup in its present format and it was replaced by the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Team

Coaches

• Head Coach: Gregor Townsend
• Assistant Coach: Shade Munro
• Assistant Coach: Matt Taylor
• Assistant coach: Kenny Murray

Squad

Hookers Fraser Brown Kevin Bryce Finlay Gillies Dougie Hall Pat MacArthur Props Geoff Cross Michael Cusack Ryan Grant Ed Kalman Moray Low Denford Mutamangira Gordon Reid Jon Welsh Jerry Yanuyanutawa Locks Jonny Gray Alastair Kellock Leone Nakarawa Tom Ryder Tim Swinson

Loose Forwards Adam Ashe James Eddie Chris Fusaro Rob Harley Tyrone Holmes Callum Reid Josh Strauss Ryan Wilson Half Backs Chris Cusiter Peter Jericevich Nikola Matawalu Henry Pyrgos Stand offs Ruaridh Jackson Duncan Weir Scott Wight

Centres Mark Bennett Folau Niua Alex Dunbar Robbie Fergusson Peter Horne Richie Vernon Back Three Gabriel Ascárate Carlin Isles Lee Jones Sean Lamont Sean Maitland D.T.H. van der Merwe Tommy Seymour Stuart Hogg Peter Murchie

Academy players

Player statistics

During the 2013–14 season, Glasgow have used forty six different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and points scored by each player.

Position	Nation	Name	Pro12			Champions Cup			Total
			Apps (sub)	Points		Apps (sub)	Points		Apps (sub)	Total Pts
				Try	Kick		Try	Kick
HK		Fraser Brown	0(10)	0	0	0	0	0	0(10)	0
HK		Kevin Bryce	0(2)	0	0	0	0	0	0(2)	0
HK		Dougie Hall	10(9)	1	0	3(3)	0	0	13(12)	5
HK		Pat MacArthur	14(5)	0	0	3(3)	0	0	17(8)	0
PR		Geoff Cross	2(3)	1	0	0	0	0	2(3)	5
PR		Mike Cusack	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
PR		Ryan Grant	9(3)	2	0	6	1	0	15(3)	15
PR		Ed Kalman	7(2)	0	0	2(4)	0	0	9(6)	0
PR		Moray Low	3(10)	0	0	2(2)	0	0	5(12)	0
PR		Gordon Reid	13(6)	2	0	0	0	0	13(6)	10
PR		Jon Welsh	11(9)	0	0	2(2)	0	0	13(11)	0
PR		Jerry Yanuyanutawa	2(12)	1	0	0(2)	0	0	2(14)	5
LK		Jonny Gray	15(3)	1	0	1(1)	1	0	16(4)	10
LK		Alastair Kellock	10(1)	1	0	4	0	0	14(1)	5
LK		Leone Nakarawa	5(12)	0	0	2(2)	1	0	7(14)	5
LK		Tom Ryder	5(3)	0	0	2(1)	0	0	7(4)	0
LK		Tim Swinson	13(2)	1	0	4	1	0	17(2)	10
BR		Adam Ashe	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
BR		James Eddie	3(8)	2	0	1(2)	0	0	4(10)	10
BR		Chris Fusaro	14(4)	1	0	4(1)	1	0	18(5)	10
BR		Rob Harley	21(3)	2	0	4	0	0	25(3)	10
BR		Tyrone Holmes	9(6)	0	0	2(2)	1	0	11(8)	5
BR		Josh Strauss	17(3)	1	0	4(1)	0	0	21(4)	5
BR		Ryan Wilson	4(3)	1	0	2(2)	0	0	6(5)	5
SH		Chris Cusiter	14(3)	1	0	0(3)	0	0	14(6)	5
SH		Nikola Matawalu	12(6)	7	0	5(1)	1	0	17(7)	40
SH		Henry Pyrgos	9(4)	2	12	3	0	0	12(4)	22
FH		Ruaridh Jackson	10(10)	1	22	5(1)	0	21	15(11)	48
FH		Finn Russell	11(3)	0	101	0	0	0	11(3)	101
FH		Duncan Weir	8(1)	0	76	1(5)	0	12	9(6)	88
FH		Scott Wight	2(2)	0	6	0	0	0	2(2)	6
CE		Mark Bennett	15(3)	4	12	1	0	0	16(3)	32
CE		Alex Dunbar	11	1	0	5	0	0	16	5
CE		Peter Horne	4(2)	0	0	0	0	0	4(2)	0
CE		Folau Niua	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
CE		Jack Steele	0(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0(1)	0
CE		Richie Vernon	9(8)	2	0	0(3)	0	0	9(11)	10
WG		Rory Hughes	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
WG		Lee Jones	3(3)	1	0	0	0	0	3(3)	5
WG		Sean Lamont	7(2)	0	0	2	1	0	9(2)	5
WG		Sean Maitland	10(3)	3	0	6	2	0	16(3)	25
WG		D.T.H. van der Merwe	6(1)	2	0	2(2)	2	0	8(3)	20
WG		Tommy Seymour	14(1)	6	0	3	0	0	17(1)	30
FB		Gabriel Ascárate	2(2)	0	0	2	0	0	4(2)	0
FB		Stuart Hogg	7	3	11	4	0	5	11	31
FB		Peter Murchie	10(1)	2	0	0	0	0	10(1)	10

Staff movements

Coaches

Personnel In

• Kenny Murray from Ayr RFC

Personnel Out

None

Player movements

Academy promotions

• Johnny Gray^[3]

Player transfers

Competitions

Pre-season and friendlies

Aberdeen GSFP: M Crawley; E Oag, H Duthie, W Wardlaw, C Gordon; M Ryan, M Ward; S Corsar, S Bingham, M Erksine, E Nimmons, S Smith, R Cessford, G Ryan (capt), T Preece. Subs (all played): R Coates, M Cox, A Wallace, C Harvey, S Warnock, G Clow, S Ryan, G Walker, A Rennie, L Earle-Wright, P Nacamavatu, S Knudson.
Glasgow Warriors: R Ferguson; B McGuigan, M Bennett, F Russell, DTH van der Merwe; S Wight (capt), A Price; G Reid, K Bryce, J Welsh, A Redmayne, J Gray, R Harley, T Holmes, A Ashe. Subs (all played): F Gillies, D Rae, D Mutamangira, E Kalman, T Ryder, J Eddie, W Bordill, R Vernon, P Jericevich, R Hughes, G Ascarate, J Steele, G Lowe.

Harlequins: M Brown, T Williams, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Monye, N Evans, D Care; J Marler, J Gray, W Collier, G Merrick, G Robson, T Guest, C Robshaw, N Easter. Replacements (all used): R Buchanan, M Lambert, P Doran-Jones, S Twomey, L Wallace, K Dickson, B Botica, M Hopper, Maurie Fa'asavalu, D Ward, T Casson, P Sackey.
Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie, T Seymour, M Bennett, G Ascarate, B McGuigan, S Wight, A Price; G Reid, P McArthur, E Kalman, J Gray, T Ryder, J Eddie, C Fusaro, R Vernon. Replacements (all used): K Bryce, J Welsh, M Low, T Swinson, W Bordill, T Holmes, H Pyrgos, F Russell, R Hughes, S Lamont.

Chiefs: L Arscott (T James 39); F Vainikolo (M Jess 56), P Dollman, J Shoemark (S Hill 73), I Whitten; G Steenson, H Thomas (W Chudley 49); B Sturgess (B Moon 62), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 62), C Rimmer (A Brown 74), D Mumm, D Welch (T Hayes 66), B White (J Phillips 73), T Johnson (J Scaysbrook 53), D Ewers (B Moon 11-21). Replacements (not used): H Slade, W Carrick-Smith, K Horstmann, D Lewis, C Sweeney
Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie; T Seymour (G Ascarate 64), S Lamont (C Cusiter 53), A Dunbar, B McGuigan; S Wight (F Russell 62), H Pyrgos (M Bennett 62); M Low (J Yanuyanutawa 30; G Reid 62), F Brown (P MacArthur 30; F Gillies 62), J Welsh (E Kalman H/T), T Swinson, J Gray (L Nakawa 62), R Harley (J Eddie 62), T Holmes (C Fusaro H/T), R Vernon

Pro12

Glasgow Warriors had a great start to the season winning their first five matches leaving them top of the league.^[17] However the results over the winter period were inconsistent and it wasn't until the spring that the side really got going again.^[18] Matches postponed over the winter period against Edinburgh and Treviso really helped give a late charge to the line. Glasgow's victory over Edinburgh in the 1872 decider won the 1872 Cup for the fifth year in a row and they found themselves second in the league.^[19] By the end of the league season, the Warriors had comfortably secured second spot. In fact, despite the inconsistent winter period the Glasgow side finished with more wins than first-placed Leinster, with only the Irish side's knack of securing bonus points giving them a slender lead.

This was the last season that a top finish secured a home semi-final and possible home final, so Leinster were favourites in the play-offs. They played 4th place Ulster in Dublin in their semi-final whilst Glasgow Warriors had a bruising match against 3rd place Munster at a packed Scotstoun.^[20] Perhaps crucially it was the Warriors first semi-final at home.^[21] It was the Glasgow side's 9th consecutive win in the season run-in.^[22]

Both Leinster and Glasgow Warriors won through, so Leinster secured their home final as expected. 5000^[23] of the Warrior Nation^[24] made their way to Dublin to a very tight RDS Arena only to see Leinster take charge of the match in the second half and run out 34-12 winners.^[25]

League Table

Pro12 Table
	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Points
1	Leinster (CH)	22	17	1	4	554	352	+202	57	30	8	4	82
2	Glasgow Warriors (RU)	22	18	0	4	484	309	+175	53	22	4	3	79
3	Munster (SF)	22	16	0	6	538	339	+199	56	27	7	3	74
4	Ulster (SF)	22	15	0	7	470	319	+151	45	26	6	4	70
5	Ospreys	22	13	1	8	571	388	+183	59	32	6	6	66
6	Scarlets	22	11	1	10	435	438	−3	43	45	3	6	55
7	Cardiff Blues	22	8	1	13	425	538	−113	32	55	1	6	41
8	Edinburgh	22	7	0	15	397	526	−129	38	57	2	8	38
9	Newport Gwent Dragons	22	7	1	14	392	492	−100	34	46	0	5	35
10	Connacht	22	6	0	16	371	509	−138	42	54	4	7	35
11	Benetton Treviso	22	5	1	16	376	591	−215	31	72	1	7	30
12	Zebre	22	5	2	15	347	559	−212	35	59	0	5	29
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[26] number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest number of red cards received; the fewest number of yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places, and earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places, that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. European Rugby Champions/Challenge Cup qualification: The top team from each country, plus the three highest-placed teams apart from those, will qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup. The remaining teams qualify for the European Rugby Challenge Cup. Updated 19 May 2014. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Results

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

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Round 6

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Round 7

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Round 8

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Round 9

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Round 10

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Round 11: 1872 Cup (1st Leg)

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Round 12

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Round 13

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Round 14

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Round 15

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Round 16

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Round 17

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Round 18

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Round 10 rescheduled match

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 10, on 20 December 2013 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.^[27]

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Round 19

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Round 20

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Round 12 rescheduled match: 1872 Cup (2nd Leg)

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 12, on 1 January 2014 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.^[28]

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Round 21

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Round 22

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Play-offs

Semi-finals

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Final

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Europe

Despite initial confidence over a decent European run^[31] Glasgow Warriors had a mixed European campaign in 2013-14. The first match against Toulon seemed to sum up the Warriors' European experience over the season; good in parts but not consistent enough to win out.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, aside from the opening two games in October, the European matches fell in a winter period when they suffered most from inconsistencies. Losing both matches against Cardiff Blues - a side that finished 7th in the Pro12 that year - really put paid to any hopes and the last match at home to Toulon which could have otherwise ended in a group decider fizzled out with another Toulon victory. Only wins against the Exeter Chiefs gave any solace and the Warriors finished bottom of their group.

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Table

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Toulon	6	5	0	1	170	104	+66	15	10	3	1	24
Cardiff Blues	6	3	0	3	119	148	−29	10	14	1	1	14
Exeter Chiefs	6	2	0	4	118	123	−5	11	14	1	3	12
Glasgow Warriors	6	2	0	4	98	130	−32	12	10	1	2	11

Sponsorship

• BT Sport
• Rowan Glen
• McCrea Financial Services
• Malcolm Group
• QBE Insurance

References