Franco Smith is urging patience from the Glasgow Warriors supporters as his side prepare for a first competitive outing at Scotstoun since their United Rugby Championship (URC) triumph.  

The Warriors will welcome Benetton on Friday evening having lost their season opener to Ulster in Belfast last weekend.  

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Glasgow are unbeaten at home in the league since the quarter-final loss to Munster in May 2023, with their only defeat at Scotstoun last season coming to Northampton in the Champions Cup.  

But Smith is not concerning himself with extending that impressive home record. 

He said: “It is important to play well, and it is important to have our people coming out to watch and support us, and we appreciate that 

“But our biggest challenge is to handle expectation. We played really well last week, probably the best first game of the season that I’ve been involved with.  

“Yes, there was errors, but when you think how these guys applied themselves without any pre-season rugby, they really did play well and we could just as easily have come home with the win. 

“I do not want the expectation to win this competition, and be this and be that, and not to lose our home record … it is all pressure on pressure. We would rather focus on what we need to do.” 

Kyle Steyn will lead Glasgow out at Scotstoun, where the Warriors haven't lost a league game since May 2023Kyle Steyn will lead Glasgow out at Scotstoun, where the Warriors haven't lost a league game since May 2023 (Image: SNS) Smith acknowledged expectations around his side have increased as a result of their title win, but said he’s concentrating on keeping that away from his players.  

The South African added: “I can’t stop the expectation, I can just keep it out of our environment. That is basically the plan – for us as player to not feel the extra pressure. 

“They already know that pressure is there, as all sports people do, but there is no focus on our side specifically on ‘we must win at home’.  

“We want to win all our games,  not just at home, and we also want to play well, but before we get distracted by win or lose, our process must be good enough to win regularly like we did in the last two years.” 

Smith has made six changes to the side that lost in Belfast, with Scotland international quartet Zander Fagerson, Adam Hastings, Kyle Rowe and Nathan McBeth among those earning starting roles.  

Zander Fagerson returns to Glasgow's starting XV Zander Fagerson returns to Glasgow's starting XV (Image: SNS) Gregor Hiddleston and Euan Ferrie also come into the pack, replacing Johnny Matthews and Henco Venter. 

Hastings’ introduction means reshuffle in the midfield, with Tom Jordan moving out one space from fly-half to inside centre, and Sione Tuipulotu doing likewise to take the number 13 jersey in the absence of the injured McDowall.   

Smith explained: “Stafford picked up a little bit of an injury so that allowed us to change things up a little bit.  

 “The reason I prepped Tom to play centre in the two warm-up games was for occasions like this, so when something happens we have a plan in place.  

"At the same time we have an experience next to Adam from a fly-half perspective to assist him with the shot-calling and the making of some important decisions, so hopefully they will complement each other.” 

McDowall is only expected to miss two to three weeks with what Smith described as a “small calf problem” picked up against Ulster.  

But Sebastian Cancelliere is set for a period on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his foot in Belfast.  

The Warriors boss said: "Unfortunately it is going to keep him out for the foreseeable future. It will be three to four weeks. It will be touch and go if he is able to tour to South Africa.” 

Glasgow are also without Jack Dempsey again, despite assistant coach Peter Murchie suggesting the Scotland number eight was close to selection.  

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"When he [Murchie] spoke to you at the beginning of the week there was some talk we were going to involve him [Dempsey] but we decided we're going to wait another week at least.” 

The Glasgow boss is better qualified than most to talk about Benetton’s continuing improvements, with Smith having played for and coached the Italian outfit.  

He gave a detailed assessment of Friday’s visitors to Scotstoun.  

“I know they've spent a lot of money to make them competitive and from what I hear from the Italian press and from Treviso, this is the year they are targeting to do really well.  

Louis Lynagh, son of Wallabies legend Michael, is one of Benetton's key menLouis Lynagh, son of Wallabies legend Michael, is one of Benetton's key men (Image: SNS) “We expect them to grow during the season off the back of their Six Nations performance last year, which was the best ever for them.  

“Because I was involved in the growth of the young guys, I know the potential of where they can go to. They are definitely going to be a tough nut to crack for most teams in the competition." 

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