Glasgow Warriors were miles from their scintillating best as they scraped past the Scarlets in their first game back after the international break with a 17-15 triumph.
It was far from a thriller at Scotstoun, albeit it was an exciting ending, but Glasgow edged out the spirited Welsh side. The URC Champions welcomed back seven Scotland internationals but the absence of a number of key players was evident as they struggled to find their rhythm.
Franco Smith looked visibly unhappy throughout but the Warriors returned to winning ways after a month-long hiatus with tries from Johnny Matthews and Henco Venter but big improvements are required ahead of a daunting fixture list.
There was an early scare for Glasgow as Adam Hastings required attention with his recent knee injuries a concern but the Scotland international was fine to continue.
Scarlets are much improved from last season and Ioan Lloyd slotted an early penalty before they were rewarded with a Glasgow-esque try from a rolling maul with captain Josh McLeod powering over - Lloyd missed the difficult conversion.
It was an insipid first quarter from the Warriors as they struggled for territory and they failed to put the Scarlets defence under sustained pressure. While Glasgow’s back-line looked impressive on paper, they were clearly missing the invention of Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu and a host of their best forwards including their back-row trio.
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Glasgow’s first-half display was littered with uncharacteristic errors and their sloppiness was highlighted when Matthews missed a line-out throw just five metres out when they looked destined to score on 27 minutes.
After surviving an earlier injury scare, Hastings was forced to leave the field on 32 minutes after Vaea Fifita smashed into the Warriors fly-half.
Duncan Weir replaced Hastings and his first meaningful involvement was to set up another maul chance with a perfect kick into the corner from a penalty.
And Glasgow were handed a boost before Matthews’ throw as Alec Hepburn was sin-binned after a TMO review for making direct head contact with Venter in making tackle - the Scotland prop was deemed ‘passive’ as he avoided seeing red.
The Scarlets started the second half in the ascendancy and they extended their lead to 15-7 when Ioan Nicholas sliced through the Glasgow defence to score their second try with Lyold converting. But Glasgow responded immediately to reduce the deficit to a single point with Venter bursting over from close range before a rammy ensued between both sets of players - Weir coveted.
Weir kicked Glasgow into the lead for the first time on 65 minutes with a penalty and it set up an incredibly nervy final 15 minutes.
Scarlets missed a penalty to win game and Tom Jordan produced a stunning charge-down to prevent a drop-goal in the last minute to secure the win.
Here’s five things we learned at Scotstoun.
Title credentials
Franco Smith won’t admit it publicly, and perhaps even privately, but Glasgow are amongst the title favourites this season after their stunning success last season. The Warriors season won’t hinge on a home clash against the Scarlets but it provided an opportunity for Smith to assess some squad players, who could be needed to step up during a physically demanding season.
Memorable Mann
It was a rather unspectacular league clash at Scotstoun but it was a special night for Jack Mann and one he had been dreaming of for a long time. It was the talented forward’s first appearance since Bath in December 2022, and his first ever at Scotstoun, after an injury plagued two years.
There were some clear signs of rustiness but Mann demonstrated his carrying ability on several occasions in the first half as he bulldozed over the Scarlets gain line.
The 25-year-old really grew into the game and he was swamped by his team-mates after winning a crucial second half penalty at the breakdown.
International angle
Glasgow were never going to be firing on all cylinders in their first game back in over a month and the result was infinitely more important than the performance. Seven Scotland internationals started with five amongst the backs and the absence of the majority of Glasgow’s strongest pack was felt.
Zander Fagerson is a world class talent up front and this display highlighted the importance of the excellent Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Demspey in the back row.
Malfunctioning maul
Glasgow are renowned for their ability to score maul drives from the opposition’s 22 but it was misfiring in the first half as they lack their usual precision. The Warriors spurned three opportunities to score from the line-out in the first half alone from within 10 metres.
Matthews missed his first throw early and Glasgow also failed to convert two chances from close range as the visitors held firm just before half-time. It was perhaps understandable that the line-out routines weren’t as fluid as usual due to the makeshift pack but Smith is a perfectionist and was clearly unhappy at the interval.
Debutants assessed
Smith handed two youngsters their debuts against the Scarlets with Fin Richardson and lock Jare Oguntibeju starting after impressing for Scotland ‘A’ against Chile last weekend.
It was a baptism of fire for the two starting forwards as Scarlets dominated the majority of the first-half up front but Glasgow’s pack begin to arrest power and both Richardson and Oguntibeju grew in confidence. The latter sensed he could score on debut with an ambitious dive over the line from close range before the break but he was smashed back.
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere (Ben Afshar 59’), Stafford McDowall, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings (Duncan Weir 31’) , George Horne; Patrick Schickerling (Allan Dell 55’), Johnny Matthews (Grant Stewart 76'), Fin Richardson (Sam Talakai 55’), Jare Oguntibeju (Angus Fraser 76') , Alex Samuel, Ally Miller, Henco Venter (Gregor Hiddleston 66’) Jack Mann
Tries: Matthews 35’, Venter 49’
Conversions: Weir 35', 48'
Penalty: Weir 65'
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Ellis Mee, Macs Page (Eddie James 56’), Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn (Kemsley Mathias 69’), Marnus van der Merwe (Ryan Elias 63’), Henry Thomas (Sam Wainwright 46’), Max Douglas (Alex Craig 63’), Sam Lousi (Taine Plumtree 63’), Josh Macleod, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.
Tries: MacLeod 10’, Nicholas 46’
Conversion: Lloyd 47'
Penalty: Lloyd 7’
Yellow card: Hepburn 33'
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