Now I know I said last time don’t panic at the fact we lost… Well I’m saying the same thing this week. Nae need for a meltdown or a panic. It’s a blip. That’s all. Every team has blips, we’re just getting ours out of the way before the season starts. If anything, it’s a masterful stroke from Franco.

Get the bad results out the way so you can go into the competitive season unbeaten. I love it. South African brains at their very best. If Rassie did it everyone would say he was a genius!

It was much improved on the Zebre performance - lets face it, it couldn’t be any worse - but it was still short of what we would expect from Glasgow, a much stronger Glasgow than had been picked the previous week. Some weeks this would have been a good side to see playing but for whatever reason on Saturday night, it just wasn’t to be. Connacht looked a little sharper, a little stronger and a little further down the road in their preparation.

This was a first run out of the season for many of the players. A chance to shake some of the dust and cobwebs off and get back some match sharpness. There was definitely some rust and one or two would no doubt have been unhappy with their contributions but for me, these games are about sharpness, fitness, staying injury free and working on new combinations or playing new players to see how they do. And one stood out for me. Mainly because he’s bloody enormous.

Jare Oguntibeju, the 6ft 8in lock, did not look out of place in the side at all in the engine room with Richie Gray. He looks like a lad who can throw a bit of weight out, seemed athletic, no mean feat considering the knee injury he suffered a couple of years back and looks like another who can add something to the side when the likes of Gray and Cummings are on international duty. Definitely one to watch grow as the season goes on.

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Another plus is seeing Adam Hastings return Glasgow to run the show at 10. He looked a little out of sorts at times but I’m sure that once he gets going, he’s going to be a very valuable asset in the Smith armoury. On the subject of the Hastings family, I’d like to send my condolences to Scott, his children, extended family and friends of Jenny following her tragic passing.

Glasgow now have 14 days between Connacht and Ulster. The Warriors will most likely have even more first 15 players back, and be sharper and more like themselves. They’ll have to be. Ulster on home turf is never an easy place to go. They’ve a point to prove after what was probably for them a season that ended with defeat in the play-offs to Leinster, Dan McFarland leaving his post along with Jonny Petrie and star signing Steven Kitshoff heading home at the end of the campaign.

All in all, they’ll feel they have a point to prove and with new coach Richie Murphy in on a permanent basis now and signing Werner Kok from the Sharks and Aidan Morgan from the Canes, they will be no push overs at the Kingspan. Glasgow will have to work bloody hard if they are going to begin their campaign with a victory. All of that will depend on who is going to make the starting line up.

Franco isn’t worried and neither should any of the rest of us. The Fagersons, Matthews, Darge, Cummings, Steyn, Tuipulotu, Jones and Cancilliere are all still to return from extended breaks. They won’t take long to get back in their stride and they will add significantly to the team. That’s a fair amount on international caps, experience and ability. We have Talakai and Sutherland in the squad now and Hastings is going to provide a lot of ammunition for one of the most dangerous back lines in the URC.

Personally, I’m excited to see it come together. It might take a game or 2 but I think we are in great shape. Franco has given us 2 incredible seasons so far. He sorted out the malaise, took us to a European final, took us to a URC final and delivered the trophy. He’s blooded so many youngsters in the last couple of seasons and in this summer as well that we have players now who have been exposed to first team rugby. Look what this has done for guys likes Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Alex Samuel and even Stafford who has gone from strength to strength under the Saffa.

What I would like to say before I finish is how good a day I had on Saturday. We went as a family and had a great time. The wee fella got a picture with the trophy alongside Scott Cummings and Rory Darge, met legends Gavin Hastings and John Muldoon and had a great time getting as many signatures as he could. Think he even made an auld Al Kellock happy by asking him for his! He managed to get Twoipuloto as both Sione and Moeses were there and Connacht and Ireland superstar Mack Hansen.

It was just a great atmosphere. Sun shining, players in good form and the signing session on the pitch just gave it that relaxed feel and it was good to see so many familiar faces and chat to as many as possible.

Lets do it again in a couple of weeks time and hopefully, we’re celebrating at the end of it…