Champions Cup: Glasgow aim to stun Antoine Dupont’s star-studded Toulouse

Warriors started their European campaign with an impressive bonus-point victory away to English Premiership side Sale last weekend, but Toulouse represent a significant step up in class.

“I don’t think there’s a bigger challenge in rugby at the moment,” added Smith.

“I think when you look at their team, there’s internationals and stars across that pitch. It’s a game you kind of bookmark when you see the fixtures, Toulouse coming to Scotland. I think it’s going to be a pretty awesome occasion.”

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith says his team have made no special plans to try to limit Dupont’s influence, not least because the French giants have numerous other X-factor players who can break a game open when given the chance.

Classy France fly-half Romain Ntamack will – alongside his half-back partner Dupont – be marshalling a brilliant backline that also includes majestic Italy international Ange Capuozzo, France’s intelligent full-back Thomas Ramos and a man familiar to most of the Warriors players, Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn.

It’s a cast list that might make an opposition coach break out in a cold sweat, but Smith is relishing the opportunity for his side to test itself against the one of the world’s top teams.

“This is the type of rugby we want to play, measured against the best,” he told BBC Scotland.

“They have won this competition six times, they are competing at the top end of this competition and the top end of the Top 14 every year.

“They are a class outfit, they’ve got a very good squad, they obviously invest heavily and Toulouse is a well-known rugby city.

“The support base and the way they go about living rugby there is huge, so for us to get that opportunity, to measure ourselves against them, that is fantastic.”