Five things we learned as Glasgow slip to Connacht defeat

It was another blow to Franco Smith’s side as they gear up for the start of the league campaign in a fortnight.  

Connacht had the best of the opening stages and opened the scoring when hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin drove over after a succession of pick-and-go attempts close to the Warriors’ line. Cathal Forde landed the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 cushion after the opening quarter.  

Glasgow’s first foray into opposition territory came immediately after, but their attack was brief with Angus Fraser’s lineout throw judged not straight.  

And when the Warriors did hit back, it came in bizarre circumstances. A loose pass from the visitors from a scrum on half-way allowed Euan Ferrie to hack down field, and when the hosts worked the ball into midfield, Tom Jordan took advantage of some suspect tackling to canter under the posts. His conversion tied the scores.  

There was a trading of tries between the visitors’ David O’Connor and Glasgow’s Angus Fraser, but Connacht led 21-14 at the break as Shayne Bolton went over for the Irish side’s third score on the stroke of half-time.  

The Irish side extended their advantage with the first points of the second half, Bolton picking an excellent line to go over unopposed. Forde’s extras took the visitors to a 14-point buffer. 

Gregor Brown's score five minutes from the end, converted by Tom Jordan, cut the deficit, but Connacht held on. 

Two defeats not ideal preparation 

Franco Smith won’t lose too much sleep over his team’s results on the past two weekends, but going into their URC title defence after two defeats is not exactly ideal preparation.  

The Warriors will also start the season without lock JP du Preez, back-row Sione Vailanu and fullback Ollie Smith, who are all recovering from long-term injuries. They also lost Scotland wing Kyle Rowe early on in this one, while Gregor Brown limped off late on. 

Continuity an issue – but not just Glasgow 

These pre-season fixtures may be about getting players ready for the league campaign and trying out new combinations, but the Warriors haven’t looked close to their best with ball in hand in their two outings so far.  

There were signs of encouragement from Adam Hastings on his first appearance since re-joining the club in the summer but individual errors were costly. That said, the hosts weren’t alone in that respect.  

Problems persist at the scrum 

Glasgow’s scrum struggled to get parity at times against Zebre last weekend, and it was an area of concern again here. Rory Sutherland, making his first start for the club, and fellow new signing Patrick Schickerling were pinged twice in the first half as Connacht got on top.  

Warriors save the best for last

Having failed to hit their stide for much of the match, Brown's late score breathed new life into the Warriors. They looked much more like themselves thereafter, offloading out of contact and working the ball to the edges of the Connacht defence. 

There were signs of promise throughout the opening hour, but more of what they showed in the closing stages will have their URC rivals worried ahead of the new season. 

More signs of promise from Jare Oguntibeju  

Having At 6ft 8’ and almost 120kgs, the South African-born lock who grew up in Edinburgh has all the physical credentials to play professional rugby. Handed an opportunity to show how he would cope with the step up over the past fortnight, the 22-year-old has not looked out of place.  

After spending two years recovering from a serious knee injury suffered playing for Scotland under-20s, this could be the season the big lock makes his breakthrough with Franco Smith’s side.  

Glasgow Warriors:  Josh McKay, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall (captain), Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, Ben Afshar; Rory Sutherland, Angus Fraser, Patrick Schickerling, Jare Oguntibeju, Richie Gray, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter, Jack Dempsey 

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Nathan McBeth, Fin Richardson, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, Sean Kennedy, Duncan Weir, Duncan Munn, Joe Roberts, Jamie Bhatti, Macenzzie Duncan, Jack Mann, Ben Salmon, Logan Trotter, Sebastian Cancelliere. 

 Tries: Jordan (21), Fraser (36), Brown (74)

Conversions: Hastings (21, 37), Jordan (75)

Connacht: Piers O’Conor, Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce (captain), Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle  

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Oisín McCormack, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, John Porch, Finn Treacy, Mack Hansen. 

Tries: Tierney-Martin (13), O’Connor (32),Bolton (40, 53) 

Conversions: Forde (15, 33, 40, 54) 

Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (SRU)