Glasgow player ratings v Saracens: ‘Unstoppable’ player of the match and ‘monstrous’ back-rower leave ‘visitors in knots’
Glasgow pair George Horne and, inset, Jack Dempsey, gave Saracens plenty of headaches at Scotstoun (INPHO/Paul Currie)
Following their tremendous 28-3 stuffing of Saracens in the Investec Champions Cup at Scotstoun Stadium on Sunday, here are the Glasgow player ratings.
Glasgow player ratings
15 Kyle Rowe: Will be frustrated that he was harshly yellow-carded on 53 minutes when helping Kyle Steyn complete a tackle on Rotimi Segun. His 27th-minute break prompted the penalised high tackle from Owen Farrell that earned the Warriors territory for their second try. 6
14 Kyle Steyn: Skipper was a handful. Ran a killer line to take a pass from George Horne for his 29th-minute try, and he nearly grabbed the bonus point score with another excellent break near the finish. Superb in defence, keeping Saracens tryless. 8
13 Huw Jones: Thought he was set to score on 18 minutes, only for Saracens to intercept before the ball reached him. His night, though, was dominated by defensive duties, and his crash into Olly Hartley just before his 64th-minute exit rounded off an effective display. 7
12 Sione Tuipulotu: There was a rare mishap from him on a night where Glasgow’s progress as the overall Champions Cup knockout stage No.2 seed secured them a home Round of 16 match versus Bulls – he was at fault for a knock-on 16 minutes into the second half when carrying near his own line. Was otherwise excellent. His 13th-minute choke turnover epitomised his commitment, as did the way he went into to confront Maro Itoje in that dust-up involving the scrum cap-losing Zander Fagerson. 8
11 Ollie Smith: Took the place of James Dobie and needed just 10 minutes to show why as he gleefully raced over the Saracens line to score and give Glasgow a lead they were never to lose. Also gave the visitors a dose of their own verbal tactic, gleefully embarking on a shouty celebration when he dragged an opponent into touch to end the first half. 7
10 Dan Lancaster: He gets a bad rap for simply being Stuart Lancaster’s son, but he showed here how he definitely can play in what was the biggest match of his career. Was supremely composed, save for a penalty that failed to find touch on 57 minutes. 8
9 George Horne: Making his 150th Glasgow appearance, he was unstoppable during his 73 minutes in a player of the match involvement that ended with a standing ovation from the adoring Scotstoun crowd. Denied a super solo try on 21 minutes, but the panic he caused led to a Saracens yellow card. His infectious energy was encapsulated not long after by the way he sprang off the floor ono halfway after making a pass to run a supper line on Jack Dempsey’s shoulder and score after collecting a pass on the 22. Superb. 9
Forwards
8 Jack Dempsey: The other part of the double act that tied Saracens up in knots. His monstrous, all-action presence set an indomitable first-half tone – check out the dextrous way he fell to the floor to gobble up a loose ball and ignite the move for Glasgow’s opening score. He later gave Horne a lovely assist following a hefty gallop. Another who was given a standing ovation by the home supporters after an effort that suffocated the visitors. 9
7 Rory Darge: The only alteration in the starting pack from last weekend’s confidence-building win at Clermont, he was a bloody thorn in the side of Saracens. His defiance was summed up by the way he effected a stupendous rip at the maul with the rain falling just before the interval and the visitors looking to score a try that would have crucially changed the complexion of the 21-3 scoreline. 8
6 Matt Fagerson: Produced a display filled with textbook back-rower interventions that helped keep the shackles on the visitors and left the likes of Ben Earl restricting his nonsense celebrations to incidental moments rather than big picture stuff. 8
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5 Scott Cummings: Still one of the most underrated Scottish players despite his British and Irish Lions tour selection, he gave an hour-long, brick wall performance exemplified by the way he held on at maul near his own line that ended with a turnover at a critical time in the second half. 8
4 Alex Craig: Was only around for about 48 minutes, but he had emptied his tank by then, not only with engine room duties but also with the super break that brought play from halfway to the 22 in the move that produced the opening score. 7
3 Zander Fagerson: Itoje certainly isn’t a fan of the tighthead, judging by the way he manhandled the prop on the floor during a bout of handbags, but he is a sturdy customer who had the last laugh with the way scrums mostly panned out Glasgow’s way in an arm wrestle second half. 8
2 Gregor Hiddleston: Take away the brake foot infringement at a scrum which gave Saracens the invite of a free that eventually led to the penalty that provided them their only points, the hooker brewed up a Scottish storm across his 69 minutes. We loved his turnover penalty win on 34 minutes, as well as a rip of possession from Earl early in the second half. Another player who gave a top-notch contribution. 8
1 Patrick Schickerling: Exited in distress after an early second-half collision with Theo McFarland; he showed he could be counted on at the scrum. For instance, there was an important penalty win with the first half score poised at just 7-3. 7
Replacements: There was an inauspicious start for sub loosehead Rory Sutherland as he was penalised at his first scrum. That aside, his impact and that of his fellow subs couldn’t be faulted, and Glasgow finished the match in command with sub hooker Seb Stephen driven over for the bonus-earning try. 7