Jamie Bhatti says Glasgow Warriors can be confident ahead of European tussle

Jamie Bhatti believes Glasgow Warriors should carry confidence from their recent win over Scarlets into their Challenge Cup semi-final clash with the Welsh side this weekend.

Franco Smith’s side have an exciting two weeks ahead with their first European semi-final in Wales on Saturday followed by a URC play-off quarter-final against Munster at home.

Glasgow beat Scarlets 12-9 at Scotstoun in the penultimate round of the regular URC season earlier in the month and Bhatti takes encouragement from the match, which was played in driving rain.

The 29-year-old Scotland loosehead said: “We beat them two weeks ago, I wouldn’t say comfortably but we weren’t stressed.

“The weather was horrible. The worst I have played in, genuinely. But we can definitely take confidence.

“We looked at it back and set-piece wise, we were dominant that night so obviously we want to take that into this weekend.

“They never stressed us. They had that phase at the start of the game, they went 12 phases but they never broke us once and a lot of our errors were our own doing so we tidied them up this week during training and if we take it into the weekend and we will be sweet.

“All we can do is take confidence and looking back at the video, we left a few chances out there as well. Dry ball, a bit better weather, we will be all right.”

Bhatti is enjoying the build-up to what could be a dramatic end to the season.

The former Edinburgh and Bath player, in his second spell with Glasgow, said: “I have never experienced it myself, I don’t know how to take it.

“If we turn up at the weekend and do what we have been doing all season we will be in a good place.

“The boys are buzzing. Obviously it is the first time the club has been in a European semi in its history so there is a good buzz about the team.

“It is special. To be playing in big games is what you want to do as a rugby player. I am happy to be here and happy for the coaches to pick me.”