Glasgow Warriors need to believe they can win on multiple fronts
[BBC] Glasgow Warriors' win over Benetton on Friday could be one of the most important of the season. A slow and underwhelming first half where the Warriors looked a side miles off the pace no doubt entered half-time knowing that Franco Smith was going to give them a right going through! A starting XV with Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu back in it could not puncture a hole in the visitors' defence and gave up easy possession time after time.
A close TMO try did give Glasgow a score but they were lucky to be down at half-time by only by three points. There seemed to be a lack of connection between Ben Afshar and Adam Hastings and it felt like the early stages of the second half once Dan Lancaster and Jack Oliver came into the game that it opened up for Glasgow. A second half, which was the complete opposite to the first, with conviction in attack and no let up on the defensive end.
It very much looked like a Warriors performance, second half and that's what the Scotstoun crowd come to see. Four second-half tries where the forwards went to work at the maul, the Italian side had no real answer to Glasgow once they got moving. The standout try, though, has to be Fergus Watson on his debut in the corner early in the second period.
Smith has a way of giving players opportunities. Injuries had delayed Watson making his debut after an impressive pre-season but he took his chance and then some! It was his line breaks through the heart of the Benetton defence that eventually led to the Max Williamson score as Glasgow began to move through the gears for what in the end is a really important five points and revenge for a bitterly disappointing defeat when Glasgow travelled to Italy earlier in the season.
The action heats up for the Warriors. The South Africa fortnight looms on the horizon but up first, Champions Cup and a huge home tie as Warriors take on the Bulls. Glasgow as the number one seed have expectation on their side and a home crowd to spur them on but Bulls, as we know, like to cause an upset.