URC: Nemesis Munster await after Glasgow Warriors pass big test

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith is “really proud” at the way his side matched Stormers’ physicality at Scotstoun.

“The South African teams have added that to the competition and, if they can bully you physically, you can make it hard for yourselves,” he told BBC Scotland. “That was one of the big work-ons and the boys fronted up nicely.

“We smashed our windows of opportunity. I’m excited we converted those points and the way we controlled the game towards the end, from a discipline perspective, was also very exciting.”

Munster came to Scotstoun almost exactly a year ago and left their hosts licking their wounds after a 14-5 defeat before the Irish side went on to win the final.

“The less we think about what’s happened, the better it will be,” Smith insisted. “This is a new challenge, a different pitch to play on.”

Former Scotland full-back Chris Paterson, though, thinks beating Stormers will be important psychologically.

“It was really good for Glasgow to win a game like that when last year’s quarter-final will be hanging over them a little bit,” he suggested.

“To get over the line, and the way they did at the end, it was a really top performance, but I think Munster’s backs will cause more problems than Stormers’ did – I think their backs are better and they have home advantage.

“Glasgow have had some really good victories over there, but Munster are on a run.”