Franco Smith's Glasgow set up last 16 tie against Bulls
SUNDAY WRAP: Glasgow Warriors continued their fine form in the Champions Cup with victory over Saracens to set up a home last-16 tie against the Bulls.
A dazzling first-half display saw the Warriors roar into a 21-3 lead against their English visitors, with Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn and George Horne crossing for tries.
Saracens enjoyed more territory and possession in the second half but were unable to find a way through a towering Glasgow defence.
Earlier, Northampton Saints’ wings Edoardo Todaro and Ollie Sleightholme proved decisive as their 43–28 victory over Scarlets in Round Four of the Champions Cup not only secured qualification for the Saints, but also handed a timely favour to the Bulls.
The result confirmed Saints’ progression to the Round of 16 and, coupled with the Bulls’ 26–24 win over Pau on Friday, ensured the Pretoria side also booked their place in the play-offs.
Teenage Italy international Todaro displayed his finishing instincts to grab a first-half hat-trick and was named man of the match as a result. At the same time, Sleightholme went over in the 51st minute.
Once Craig Wright finished a line-out drive, Saints led 33-14 and appeared to be coasting, but Scarlets found a second wind to cross through Sam Costelow and Jac Davies.
Tension mounted at Franklin’s Gardens until Anthony Belleau, who continued to deputise for calf-injury victim Fin Smith, rifled over a penalty in the 76th minute to put daylight between the rivals.
Callum Chick then drove over from the close range in overtime to give the final scoreline a lopsided look that failed to reflect Scarlets’ gutsy performance.
In the earlier fixture, Bristol Bears were outgunned in their duel with Bordeaux for top spot in Pool Four of the Champions Cup after falling 15-27 at a rain-swept Ashton Gate.
The current European champions did the bulk of the damage in the first half with Gabriel Oghre’s early try quickly overhauled by two from Louis Bielle-Biarrey and a third by Nicolas Depoortere.
All three Bordeaux tries came off turnovers, with Bristol living dangerously in the wet conditions, as loose kicking and poor decision-making contributed to their 17-5 deficit.
The Bears rallied with Benhard Janse van Rensburg showing his strength to cross in the 65th minute, but they continued to make mistakes that let the visitors wrestle back control.
France wing Bielle-Biarrey went over for his hat-trick to secure the man of the match award and the outstanding Matthieu Jalibert added two penalties in a strong finale by the Top 14 heavyweights.
The result means Bordeaux finish top of the group to claim home advantage until the semifinal stage, while Bristol must travel for their round of 16 tie.
Harlequins defied their abysmal domestic form to stun La Rochelle 27-17 at Stade Marcel Deflandre and secure home advantage in the Champions Cup round of 16.
England fly-half Marcus Smith was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Jules Favre in the 56th minute, but upon his return, Quins produced the match-winning moment against the 2022 and 2023 champions.
It was Tom Lawday who delivered the decisive score with eight minutes remaining by storming over with a strong run down the right wing after being given sight of the line by a long pass from Jarrod Evans.
Man of the match Smith converted the try and added a late penalty to begin the celebrations, in the process leaving European heavyweights La Rochelle to reflect on their shock group exit from the competition.
With the score tied at 17-17 heading into the final 10 minutes, Harlequins kept their nerve to complete a famous win that means they finish Pool Three in second place behind Leinster.
The success in European action has proved to be a refuge for the London club, who have sunk to ninth in the Prem and recently issued an apology to fans.
Bristol Bears 15-27 Union Bordeaux Bègles
The scorers:
For Bristol Bears:
Tries: Orghe, Janse van Rensburg
Con: Worsley
Pen: Worsley
For Union Bordeaux Bègles:
Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 3, Depoortere
Cons: Jalibert 2
Pen: Jalibert
Teams
Bristol Bears: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (captain), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Matias Moroni
Union Bordeaux Bègles:15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Temo Matiu, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Joey Carbery, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia), Andrew Cole (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Northampton Saints 43-28 Scarlets
The scorers:
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Todaro 3, Sleightholme, Wright, Chick
Cons: Belleau 5
Pen: Belleau
For Scarlets:
Tries: Elias, Hughes, Costelow, Davies
Cons: Costelow 4
Teams
Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Edoardo Todaro, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Henry Pollock, 7 Sam Graham, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Chunya Munga, 3 Trevor Davison,2 Robbie Smith, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Archie McParland, 22 James Pater, 23 George Hendy
Scarlets: 15 Jac Davies, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Jake Ball, 4 Max Douglas, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Macs Page, 23 Tomi Lewis
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)
La Rochelle 17-27 Harlequins
The scorers:
For La Rochelle:
Tries: Niniashvili, Nowell, Berjon
Con: West
For Harlequins:
Tries: Murley, Green, Lawday
Cons: Smith 3
Pens: Smith 2
Teams
Stade Rochelais: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Davit Niniashvili, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Nathan Bollengier, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Thomas Berjon, 8 Judicael Cancoriet, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Paul Boudehent, 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Uini Atonio (captain), 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Alexandre Kaddouri
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 20 Grégory Alldritt, 21 Kirill Fraindt, 22 Jules Favre, 23 Jack Nowell
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Jack Kenningham, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Guido Petti, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Simon Kerrod
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Jarrod Evans
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Glasgow Warriors 28-3 Saracens
The scorers:
For Glasgow Warriors
Tries: Smith, Steyn, Horne, Stephen
Cons: Horne 3, Lancaster
For Saracens:
Pen: Farrell
Teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Euan Ferrie, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Ben Afshar
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Juan-Martin Gonzalez, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jamie George, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Noah Caluori
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
