Glasgow Warriors' Euro dream dies as form book tossed to the wind amid Brex wonder try
Three-time champions are first team to win at Scotstoun this season
Glasgow Warriors are a formidable prospect at Scotstoun and at times they have felt unbeatable in their compact home. By contrast, Toulon have struggled on the road all season, winning just twice in all competitions.
But the form book was tossed to the west coast winds on Saturday as the French visitors destroyed the home side’s bid to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Cup for the first time in their history.
A wonderful solo try by Nacho Brex proved decisive in a game that swung back and forth and Toulon ran out 22-19 winners to book a place in the last four against Leinster in Dublin.
It was a gripping match, characterised by an outstanding defensive performance from the French side who also outscored their hosts by four tries to three. There was ebb and flow, with Glasgow making most of the first-half running, scoring tries through Stafford McDowall and Ollie Smith, but they went in at the turn 17-12 behind after conceding twice in the final 11 minutes.
Glasgow must now concentrate on the URC
The Warriors fought back with a try from Gregor Hiddleston five minutes into the second period but Italy centre Brex scored what turned out to be the match-winning score on 59 minutes.
Glasgow, who have thrilled in the Champions Cup this season, beating Sale, Toulouse, Clermont, Saracens and the Bulls, find themselves turfed out at the quarter-final stage for the second year running and must now turn their attention to the United Rugby Championship. It can still be a good season for Franco Smith's side - they lead the URC standings - but their first home defeat of the campaign means the European dream is over for another year.
Without their two first-choice scrum-halves - George Horne and Jamie Dobie are both injured - Glasgow had Ben Afshar starting and young Jack Oliver on the bench. They were also light in the second row, with Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown and Alex Craig all sidelined. Max Williamson, who had been named on the bench, joined the injury list, pulling out before kick-off. He was replaced by Macenzzie Duncan.
Toulon are three-time Champions Cup winners but came into this game as underdogs, such has been Glasgow’s form. Urged on by another Scotstoun sell-out, the Warriors looked to make a fast start and the French visitors resorted to nefarious means to stop them. There was a slew of penalties before the home side finally made the breakthrough. As per Glasgow’s usual tactics, they kicked to the corner at every opportunity and it eventually paid off when McDowall scored.
Super-sharp Afshar and Toulon indiscipline
Alex Samuel won the lineout close to the Toulon line and Afshar was super-sharp as he spotted a gap and then slipped it inside to the centre who touched down one-handed. Lancaster converted but Toulon hit straight back. They had penalty advantage when the ball was flung wide to Gaël Drean to score the opener of a first-half double.
Toulon’s indiscipline was a notable feature of the first half and they had already been warned by Karl Dickson before the referee’s patience finally snapped in the 21st minute and Junior Kpoku was sent to the sin-bin.
Glasgow made them pay a minute later, McDowall flinging out a splendid long pass to Ollie Smith to score in the corner after good work by Jare Oguntibeju. The wind was getting up and Lancaster couldn’t convert but the Warriors now held a 12-5 lead as well as a numerical advantage.
However, it was Toulon who finished the half stronger with two tries in the final 11 minutes. They were camped on the Glasgow line and Jean-Baptiste Gros stretched over for a rare try. It was all the more impressive because the visitors still had only 14 men on the field. Melvyn Jaminet’s conversion tied things up at 12-12 and Kpoku returned to the fray soon after.
Lancaster off, then back on again (twice)
Toulon took the lead for the first time three minutes before the break and it was a great finish by Drean who took the pass from Jaminet and then stepped inside Lancaster for his second try of the day.
The Glasgow stand-off was replaced at half-time by Adam Hastings and the sub soon helped his team regain the lead. Once again, Toulon’s indiscipline cost them. They were penalised for not rolling away and then marched back another 10 yards. From the lineout, Glasgow got their driving maul working and Hiddleston was able to force himself over the line despite the attentions of two Toulon defenders. Hastings did well to slot the conversion from out wide to make it 19-17 to the Warriors.
It was gripping rather than spectacular and the pendulum swung back in Toulon’s favour. They pummelled the Glasgow line but the Warriors held firm and eventually won a huge turnover which was celebrated like a try by the home supporters. But all the good work was undone a couple of minutes later when, from a scrum on halfway, Nacho Brex spotted a gap in midfield, brushed past Hastings and ran in a superb solo try.
Jaminet was again well off target with the conversion attempt but Toulon now held a three-point advantage as the game moved into the final quarter.
Glasgow’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of Kyle Steyn and Hastings to head injuries in quick succession. Lancaster came back on to replace first the captain and then the stand-off. Steyn was able to return but Hastings was not and Lancaster remained on the field for the rest of the game.
He had one good break late on but couldn’t get the ball wide. Glasgow kept pushing, going through the phases as time slipped away, but they were eventually turned over and Jaminet kicked the ball dead to end the contest and secure Toulon’s place in the semi-finals.
Scotstoun teams and scorers
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: McDowall, Smith, Hiddleston. Cons: Lancaster, Hastings. Toulon: Tries: Drean 2, Gros, Brex. Cons: Jaminet.
Yellow card: Junior Kpoku (Toulon, 21min)
Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Steyn (D Lancaster 57-67), S McDowall, S Tuipulotu, O Smith; D Lancaster (A Hastings h-t; Lancaster 68), B Afshar; P Schickerling (J Bhatti 61), G Hiddleston (S Stephen 61), Z Fagerson (S Talakai 61), O Oguntibeju (E Ferrie 54), A Samuel, M Fagerson, R Darge, J Dempsey (A Fraser 68). Replacements not used: Macenzzie Duncan, J Oliver
RC Toulon: M Jaminet; G Drean, N Brex, J Sinzelle, S Tuicuvu (M Ferte 49); T Albornoz, B White (B Serin 68); J-B Gros (D Brennan 64), T Baubigny (G Lucchesi 45), K Sinckler (B Gigashvili 62), C Mezou (M Halagahu 60), D Ribbans, J Kpoku (E Abadie 60), C Ollivon, M Shioshvili (Z Mercer 68).
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng).
Attendance: 7,321
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