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Marmion: Glasgow motivation not a Connacht concern

Kieran Marmion: 'Hopefully we've a few more games left and can finish on a high'
Kieran Marmion: 'Hopefully we've a few more games left and can finish on a high'

Kieran Marmion says Connacht won't read too much into Glasgow's situation ahead of next weekend's final BKT URC match, which the Westerners need to win to guarantee Heineken Champions Cup rugby next season.

The Warriors, on the other hand, will be in the top tier of Europe as they will finish first in the Scottish-Italian shield and even if they lose next week, are still guaranteed a home URC quarter-final.

They are also in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup against Scarlets, a game that takes place in a fortnight's time so head coach Franco Smith has a lot to consider ahead of Saturday's match-up in Scotstoun.

However, Marmion, who will move to Bristol at the end of the season and signed off in front of The Sportsground crowd after 11 years with a try, says they can't afford to hope Glasgow might have a soft underbelly.

"We haven't talked about that," said the scrum-half after last night's 38-19 win over Cardiff that secured a play-off place.

"I don't think I ever won in Glasgow in my whole career so we know how tough it is to go there.

"Obviously, it's emotional playing the last Connacht game here. I think we've put ourselves in a good position to go to Glasgow now, which is the main thing.

"We've got a bit of momentum behind us, especially since the last few homes games so we'll just push on and see how far we can go.

"Hopefully we've a few more games left and can finish on a high."

Marmion, who was a standout performer when Connacht won the Pro12 in 2016, also spoke about his switch to Bristol, where he will join up with former coach Pat Lam.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said the 31-year-old English-born back.

"At this stage of my career it's something new for me, a new challenge and puts me out of my comfort zone and something that I need to finish off my career.

"Hopefully I can go over there and rip into it and play as best I can."

Having won the last of his 28 Ireland caps in 2020, Marmion will become England-qualified in November and has left the door open on a possible international return.

"I think my main aim is to just go over there and play as best as I can and I guess we'll just come to that if it ever comes to it," he said.

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