Glasgow's URC dream goes on as they stun Stormers to reach semi-finals

It was a cagey affair for so long with only six points separating the sides until midway through the second half.

The game caught fire at that point, with Stormers getting the first try of the game before Warriors roared back with three of their own to make sure of the win.

READ MORE: How the Glasgow Warriors players rated in win over Stormers

Sebastian Cancelliere, Henco Venter and Ross Thompson were the heroes of the hour with the scores but this was an overall team performance that yielded the deserved result.

From Scotstoun, here are five things we learned. 

Glasgow deal with the pressure

Before the game Franco Smith had addressed the “elephant in the room”, as he called it, the ability of Scottish teams – including his own – to deal with high-pressure situations, especially in knockout ties. Warriors had lost their previous three and another defeat here, at home, would have only added to the theory that there is an inherent softness and lack of backbone that is holding our game back.

There was little sign of any inferiority complex in an intriguing first half that saw George Horne confidently knock over two penalties and Warriors compete all over the pitch. But it was when adversity finally arrived – twice – after the break that Glasgow stood up to be counted.

The first time was when Stormers claimed the first try of the game through Ben Loader. Just how would Warriors respond? The answer was with a try barely a minute later thanks to a moment of genius from Sione Tuipulotu to tee up Cancelliere.

Stormers were never going to go away quietly into the night and a second score from Paul de Wet again asked questions of Warriors’ mental strength. Could they handle the pressure? You bet. Rather than folding they simply went back on the attack, with the tries from Venter and Thompson easing the tension all around Scotstoun. This was a team who stood up to be counted when it mattered.

Munster crunch

It doesn’t get any easier from here of course but Warriors can now head to Thomond Park for their last four tie full of confidence. It was Munster, of course, who ended their URC run in the quarter-finals last season and what a statement it would be if Glasgow could go over there and get their revenge and reach the final.

Manie muzzled

Warriors’ attack coach Nigel Carolan had pinpointed Manie Libbok as the man who could make Stormers tick if the fly-half was allowed to weave his magic. Glasgow had a plan, Carolan promised, to make this an uncomfortable evening for the Springbok. The home crowd were quick to add to that feeling, cheering ironically as Libbok sliced two first-half penalty attempts wide of the posts.

The fly-half never shied away from taking the ball and looked to make passes but he wasn’t cutting Glasgow open in the manner that he is often capable of, unable to really influence the flow of the contest. His kicking never improved in the second half, his woeful 0-4 record off the tee contributing substantially to Stormers’ downfall.

Time to say goodbye

Results elsewhere earlier in the weekend meant this was always going Glasgow’s final home game of the season regardless of the outcome. That meant a last outing for several players who will now move on to pastures new. All three departing stars – Oli Kebble, George Turner and Ross Thompson – started on the bench and came on during the second half to a rousing farewell reception.

It was a particularly poignant moment for Turner who came on for his 100th appearance, clocking up the milestone just in time before he heads to Japan and a new chapter with Kobe Steelers.

Thompson is staying a bit closer to home as he prepares to shoot along the M8 to join Edinburgh, while Kebble is keeping his cards close to his chest for now, although did reveal it would be somewhere rather than warmer and sunnier than Scotland – which didn’t rule out too many destinations.

Summer tour chance for a few?

Gregor Townsend will name his squad on Wednesday for the forthcoming tour of North and South America.

If the group is likely to be more of an experimental nature given the level of opposition, then there are definitely more than a few in Glasgow colours who deserve a chance to show what they can do at international level.

Nathan McBeth, a former Scotland under-20 cap, has been excellent at loosehead all season, while elsewhere in the pack Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Ally Miller and Alex Samuel have all shown themselves good enough to become regular picks under Franco Smith. None would disgrace themselves in a Scotland shirt if selected.

Glasgow Warriors: J McKay, S Cancelliere (J Dobie 79), H Jones, S Tuipulotu, K Steyn, T Jordan (R Thompson 77), G Horne; J Bhatti (N McBeth 52 (J Bhatti 55-65 (O Kebble 68))), J Matthews (G Turner 52), Z Fagerson, S Cummings, R Gray (M Williamson 68), M Fagerson, R Darge (H Venter 68), J Dempsey (E Ferrie 77)

Tries: Cancelliere, Venter, Thompson; Conversions: Horne 3; Penalties: Horne 2

Stormers: W Gelant, S Hartzenberg, D du Plessis, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu ( J du Plessis 60), B Loader, M Libbok, H Jantjies (P De Wet 62); B Harris (S Sithole 64), J Dweba (A-H Venter 48), F Malherbe (N Fouche 50), S Moerat (C Evans 77), R van Heerden (A Smith 66), W Engelbrecht (M Theunissen 50), B Dixon, H Dayimani

Tries: Loader, de Wet

Yellow card: S Moerat

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Attendance: 5,879

Player of the Match: George Horne

Attendance: 5,879