Franco Smith insists Glasgow Warriors are embracing the challenge of having a target on their back as BKT URC champions. Smith’s team won the title in thrilling fashion at the end of last season, beating the Vodacom Bulls 21-16 in the final at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld after overcoming the DHL Stormers and Munster Rugby in the play-offs.
Now they are faced with the task of defending their crown with their rivals determined to knock them off their perch. Asked if they will have a target on their back, head coach Smith simply replied: “Definitely, that goes without saying.”
“I am sure teams will approach us differently. I definitely feel there will be some more interest in our performance this season. But it doesn’t change what we need to do and how we go about our business.
Smith does not expect his Warriors will succumb to the ‘second season syndrome’, that can hinder a squad that has recently reached the mountain top. The Glasgow head coach fully backs the Scottish side to be as fired up as ever, and expressed how his players are ’embracing the challenge’.
“Seeing the players, it definitely looks like we are embracing the challenge. From the leadership conversations, it’s obvious they have set their standards high.They proved trustworthy last season which is fantastic. “It’s a young enough group to still push the boundaries and try to be better – and they can be.
“It will obviously be a challenge to keep expectation out of the room and out of our environment. There is a lot of expectation from a lot of people and themselves as well. To manage that is going to be important, but we have got a recipe for it and we will take it one game at a time.
“Hopefully, the life lessons they will learn from this current position they are in will serve them well going forward in their careers. We realise people will approach us differently and it’s going to be up to us to raise our bar and raise our standard again.”
Glasgow have bolstered their squad by recruiting three quality props throughout the Summer, with British & Irish Lions loose-head Rory Sutherland arriving from French club Oyonnax. Also, Wallabies tight-head Sam Talakai comes on board from Melbourne Rebels and England squad member Partick Shicklering heads up North of the wall from Exeter.
There’s another notable addition in the shape of Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings, who has rejoined the club after spending the past three years away at Premiership outfit Gloucester.
As for those who have moved on, props Oli Kebble and Lucio Sordoni have both headed for France, hooker George Turner is off to Japan, while fellow front row Fraser Brown has retired. Fly-half Ross Thompson has made the swap for Scottish rivals Edinburgh, and flanker Tom Gordon makes the short trip into Northern England following his move to Newcastle Falcons.
Glasgow have had an underwhelming pre-season following back-to-back defeats. The first loss came away to Italy, as Zebre nilled the Warriors in fine fashion (31-0), before a gutsy Connacht side racked up a 28-21 win on the Glaswegians home turf. South African coach Smith isn’t losing any sleep over those results.
“I am not concerned at all,” he said. We finished very late (last season) and had most of the squad travelling with Scotland over the summer. We are integrating the boys and have used a lot of pathway players. We don’t read much into the results, the approach is completely different going forward.”
Looking towards the start of the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship season, and Glasgow commence their title defending campaign this Saturday with an away trip to Belfast. The Warriors take on Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium, yet Smith instead identified the Welsh capital city side as the club to keep an eye on this season.
“I have got a lot of respect for all the sides in the BKT URC. I feel Cardiff might be the team that surprises this year.”