Glasgow v RC Toulon: Winners and losers as ‘sleeping giants’ awaken while Warriors’ disappointment creates opportunity to go ‘full hog’
Junior Kpoku and Matthias Halagahu celebrate and an inset of referee Karl Dickson.
Following RC Toulon’s 19-22 victory over the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium, here are our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.
Winners
RC Toulon
The obvious winner. Is the sleeping giant of European Rugby awakening from its 11-year slumber? It was back in 2015 when RC Toulon defeated fellow countryman Clermont in the final to clinch their third title, and while this squad isn’t quite the Galácticos-esque team that emerged victorious at Twickenham, there is a stubbornness and drive that could well see them go all the way.
The club has all but given up on their Top 14 run this season, meaning that they can focus solely on their run in the Investec Champions Cup, which makes them all the more dangerous.
Toulon were largely written off heading into this fixture, taking on the tournament’s second seed, at home, where they rarely lose, but the French outfit rose to the occasion and caused the upset.
Stafford McDowall
Last week, it was a bit of a shock that Huw Jones was not included in the starting XV to face the Bulls in the last-16, despite the fine run of form that Stafford McDowall has enjoyed. The 28-year-old repaid Franco Smith’s faith in him, producing a man-of-the-match performance in truly atrocious conditions, which earned him another start this week against RC Toulon.
Again, McDowall did not disappoint. He kick-started his performance with a stunning line from a set-piece that saw him canter through the Toulon defence and open Glasgow’s account. He was central to the second try too, with a simply scrumptious long pass out to Ollie Smith, who had the simplest of finishes.
Jones will leave Glasgow at the end of the season to join Toulon, and while his departure will be sorely felt, McDowall is proving what most Warriors fans already knew: they have a world-class replacement in the ranks already.
Let’s not forget that Jones shone for the British and Irish Lions last year and has hardly been in poor form this campaign. The simple fact is that McDowall has been undeniable and, fitness permitting, will probably start Glasgow’s remaining big fixtures this campaign and perhaps even usurp Jones in the Scotland jersey.
It’s also worth highlighting the fact that he shone against one of the best centres in the business, Juan Ignacio Brex.
Nacho Brex
We were really treated to some scintillating centre play today with Nacho Brex scoring an outrageous solo try, swatting off Adam Hastings and leaving the entire Glasgow loose trio in his wake as he cantered away to score.
The Italian vice-captain continues to build on his ever-growing reputation as one of the best centres in the game as he gets better and better with age.
His pull-back pass is elite-tier, along with the likes of Sione Tuipulotu and Andre Esterhuizen, while remaining a technically, tactically, and physically brilliant defensive midfielder.
Brex’s try will steal the headlines, but frankly, his influence on the outcome of the match extended far beyond those five points.
Gaël Dréan
Fabien Galthié is spoilt for choice when it comes to rapid, in-form and lethal wingers, and Gaël Dréan is comfortably in the mix after his try-scoring debut in the Six Nations.
This week, Toulon revealed that the 25-year-old has clocked quicker times than Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe did during his time at the club, but Dréan is much more than just a speed merchant, as he showed today.
He used his pace to get on the outside of Kyle Steyn before delivering the killer blow, a powerful fend that is quickly becoming something of a trademark in his game. He followed that up with another stellar finish to notch up his SEVENTH try of the campaign and collected the man of the match award.
Losers
The rest of the URC
Last season, Leinster had their Champions Cup campaign ended at the semi-final stages of the tournament, resulting in the Irish giants turning their focus fully on the United Rugby Championship as Leo Cullen’s men finished top of the table and secured a home run to the title.
Despite the disappointment of a quarter-final exit, Glasgow are now well-placed to replicate those efforts this season. They do have a tough run of games before the knockouts, but without the ‘distraction’ of a Champions Cup semi and possible final, they can go full hog against the Lions and Stormers in Johannesburg and Cape Town before hosting Cardiff and tackling Ulster in Belfast.
Before the defeat to Toulon, Glasgow hadn’t lost at home in almost a year, highlighting the magnitude of the French side’s result but also how valuable playing at Scotstoun is for the club.
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Dan Lancaster
For a second knockout match in a row, Dan Lancaster was entrusted with the starting fly-half role, and while he played 74 minutes of the victory over the Bulls, he did not make it out of the sheds for the second half this week.
He was very much a conductor of the win over the Bulls, and while he wasn’t dismal during the opening 40 minutes, he was a bit of a hindrance, particularly on attack, with Adam Hastings making a clear, notable improvement until he was forced off.
Lancaster returned twice in the second half due to injuries in the Glasgow backline and was notably better but he also suffered an injury that limited his involvement in the final passage of play.
Toulon backchat
The ugly and growing trend of players mouthing off to referees continued today and while it wasn’t exclusive to Toulon, the French club paid the highest price for it.
After conceding a penalty, Setariki Tuicuvu expressed his dismay to Karl Dickson who rightly marched the visitors back 10 metres and allowed Hastings to put Glasgow within striking distance.
The referee then ridiculously didn’t count the numbers in the lineout that Glasgow were setting and Toulon conceded the free-kick with Dickson having to remind Kyle Sinckler that he can actually count himself. The Warriors would score from the ensuing lineout.
That was the standout interaction from this match but it was one of several unnecessary discussions that Dickson had to have throughout the match as the players from both teams regularly argued and attempted to discuss decisions with the official. In a knockout match of this calibre, we can understand why the Englishman didn’t reach into his pocket but if he did, it probably would have stopped it in its tracks.
It’s completely understandable for captains to chat with the referee and when needed, a front rower who has a better understanding of the scrums but the constant bickering from the players is akin to what football is trying to stamp out and rugby is seemingly allowing to seep in more and more.
Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson’s commentary
As spectators, we accept the fact that former players will never be truly neutral when on commentary and often, that can add to the entertainment, but today was a step too far.
As a club legend, it’s understandable that Ryan Wilson was very partisan to Glasgow Warriors throughout the 80 minutes, but at times, it went beyond that and was more akin to being a blind supporter and resulted in unnecessary, unwarranted questioning of Dickson’s decision-making.
Simon Zebo followed suit with the pair notably questioning the lack of a penalty against Toulon prop Jean-Baptiste Gros, who shot up early and had zero influence on Ben Afshar’s kick that Glasgow botched.
As much as we can critique the officials and players, we should expect more from the broadcasters too, and whilst the pair are more often than not entertaining and insightful behind the mic, today they were below par.