Latest news with #NigelCarolan
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Glasgow Warriors' task is even harder than proving billboard wrong - but scabs can be picked at
Warriors completed mission improbable in Limerick - now it's off to Dublin Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Winning a semi-final in Ireland when no-one gives them an earthly is not a new thing for Glasgow Warriors. They did it last year when they dethroned Munster as the United Rugby Championship kingpins. In doing so, they became only the second team to win in Limerick over the course of the season and they also brought to an end the hosts' winning run, which had stretched to ten games. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was all the more satisfying because an over-zealous scoreboard operator at Thomond Park had flashed up an advert for the final on the big screen. Of course, it was Glasgow, not Munster, who made it through, winning 17-10 to set up a showdown with the Bulls in Pretoria - which they also won to lift the trophy. Glasgow Warriors defeated Stormers last weekend. | SNS Group On Saturday, it's Leinster who block their path to a second successive URC final and Glasgow are happy to again embrace underdog status. 'You can refer to it in terms of it not being unknown territory for us,' said Nigel Carolan, the Warriors' attack coach. 'It's a path we've been down and no one gave us a chance going to Munster last year. Munster even had a billboard with the advertisement of the final. 'Everyone had written us off. But if we can bring our A game, we can beat anybody. Be it Thomond Park, Pretoria or the Aviva Stadium.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is a sterner test for Warriors In truth, Leinster represents an even tougher test than last year; they beat Glasgow 52-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final in Dublin just eight short weeks ago. For Carolan, that's ancient history. Not surprisingly, he prefers to focus instead on the more recent league encounter with Leinster at the Aviva when a young Glasgow side matched the home team for long periods before being edged out 13-5. Both sides' form has dipped in recent weeks but Carolan believes Glasgow are coming to the boil again and their opponents have 'scabs' that can be picked at. 'The Champions Cup game is written off,' he said. 'It's so long ago now. There was probably a little bit of mental scarring after that. It was evident in the few games we played after that. 'I think it's fair to say that Leinster went through the same after their loss to Northampton [in the Champions Cup semi]. Both teams were trying to find ways to pick themselves up. I thought how we performed last Friday night against the Stormers was definitely a step in the right direction. It'll definitely give us some momentum for this week. Glasgow Warriors have suffered against Leinster already this season. | Getty Images 'There are scabs there in Leinster. If we can pick at them, if we can bring the best version of our game physically, emotionally, and have that accuracy as well, I think we can ask some really good questions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's nothing like a semi-final to focus the mind. Going back to the Aviva, for us, based on our last performance there, and even the template of how we played, how physical we were, how we showed up, I think gives us a lot of confidence. 'We've been here before and I think there's a standard now as well; an expectation after we've done it the hard way last year.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Leinster losses 'history' for Glasgow, insists assistant coach Nigel Carolan
Glasgow assistant coach Nigel Carolan believes his side have rediscovered their "ruthless" streak in good time to try to defend their United Rugby Championship title. The Warriors entered the play-offs having lost four of their previous five matches in all competitions, including an alarming 33-7 defeat at Benetton. But Franco Smith's side banished any concerns about their form when they romped to a five-try 36-18 victory at home to Stormers in Friday's quarter-final to set up a semi-final trip against Leinster at Aviva Stadium this Saturday. "I definitely think there's a template there (from Friday) that we try and play to," said Carolan. "I think what we showed was really good ambition, some good accuracy. We scored some cracking tries, even though we didn't have a massive amount of the ball. "But I think what it did show is when we did get chances, we were pretty ruthless and that's what you need this time of the season, as you approach the quarter-finals and semi-finals. "Every opportunity counts and it's important that you take those chances when they come about." Glasgow must find a way to redress the balance against a Leinster side who hammered them 52-0 in the Champions Cup in April before defeating them 13-5 in the final league match last month. Carolan is adamant his side have banished any lingering effects from the heavy European defeat in Dublin two months ago. "I think it's history now," he said. "We've played them since, and I think what we turned up with the last time we played them is a bit more us. And I think what we saw on Friday night against the Stormers was more us again. "I think we're building nicely. I think we've definitely got a bit of the mojo back from where we were. I think it was probably the Leicester game (a 43-19 win on 5 April) when we last sort of played like that. I think it's important that we got into this weekend on the back of a good performance last Friday and there's a lot of confidence we can take from it." Carolan reported that Scotland forwards Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson are all progressing well in their recovery from injuries but unlikely to be ready for Saturday. He is hopeful that centre Huw Jones will be fit to return in Dublin after missing the Stormers game with an Achilles issue. "Huw is on track at the moment to be ready," said Carolan. "Obviously we pulled him last week for precautionary reasons, but he's shaping up really well. We'll just have to see how he progresses through the week."
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Warriors have to be 'calm & ruthless' against Leinster
Nigel Carolan is urging cool heads and a "ruthless" streak as Glasgow Warriors bid to defy the odds against Leinster in the URC semi-final in Dublin on champions Glasgow made a strong start to the play-offs with a 36-18 home win over Stormers last weekend, but haven't won away to Leinster since 2019."We scored some cracking tries [against Stormers] even though we didn't have a massive amount of the ball. What it did show is that when we did get chances, we were pretty ruthless," said Glasgow assistant coach Carolan."It's what you need this time of the season as you approach the quarter and semi-finals."Every opportunity counts and it's important that you take those chances when they come about."The thing about Leinster, they really limit the chances that you do get. So, whatever we can create, it's important that we're nice and cool."Our mindset has got to be ruthless, but also nice and calm and composed, so we can execute them."Carolan insists Glasgow are unburdened by the 52-0 shellacking they suffered against Leinster in Dublin in the Champions Cup last month."It's history now," he added. "Look, we've played them since [losing 13-5 in the final game of the URC regular season], so I think what we turned up with the last time we played them is a bit more us."I think what we saw on Friday night against the Stormers was more us again. We're building nicely, we've definitely got a bit of the mojo back from where we were."It's important that we got into this weekend on the back of a good performance last Friday and there's a lot of confidence we can take from it."
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Dangerous Glasgow can ask questions of any team'
Assistant coach Nigel Carolan is demanding to see the best version of Glasgow Warriors in Friday's Champions Cup quarter-final. Glasgow overcame Leicester with a 43-19 victory to set up Friday's last-eight tie against a Leinster side who thrashed Harlequins 62-0 in their previous match. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us," Carolan said of the quarter-final. "If we can just get the best version of our game on the pitch, I think we can ask questions of any team. I think the confidence is there in the group. The belief is definitely there."I think they're characteristics that are extremely powerful. When you put that with a skillset and that ability to be brave and how we try and play, it's a dangerous combination if it clicks. "Leinster are going to bring this rushed defence where teams get bothered by it. Teams get a little bit flustered. I think it's really important we stay calm and composed."
