Franco Smith on Glasgow’s bonus point Stormers win and Matt Fagerson fitness

The reigning URC champions showcased their title credentials to pick up a bonus-point triumph after tries from Johnny Matthews, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe and Henco Venter. Glasgow travel back to Scotland ahead of the Autumn internationals with seven points from their two-game tour to South Africa to leave Smith delighted. 

“They came here with a mission,” Smith admitted. “Their attitude, the way they approached it and what they brought to us is fantastic. Seven points, we’re really happy with that.

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“We ended up cutting them quite a bit through the defence as well. It wasn’t just about going around them. We had some really good line breaks. We found a bit of space.

“It’s about the players playing to what we asked and applying their skills in what we’ve done as a collective. I’ll concentrate on what we did today and I’m happy about that.

“I’m really happy with those points. It’s now an important period for us, a lot of the boys carry on with Scotland and we will have to manage the load as we’re going into the European Cup phase and the derby phase and the nice fresh weather of Scotland over that period. So some different ways to manage the boys going forward.”

Glasgow were led magnificently by Tuipulotu who produced a Man of the Match display just days after being named Scotland captain by Gregor Townsend. 

Sione Tuipulotu was outstanding again for Glasgow (Image: SNS Group) The centre was instrumental throughout with his ball carrying ability and physicality. Smith was proud of how Tuipulotu stepped up when needed.

“It’s the same as I said last week and the week before that,” Smith replied when asked about his performance.

“We know that he’s an influential player and character. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and that is what I appreciate most. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, he’s all full-on.

“Being announced as a Scottish captain this week could have made him reluctant to play today and it was evident that he wasn’t.”

Nineteen Glasgow players will join up with Scotland next week ahead of their clash with Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield next Saturday.

The Scotland contingent came through the game unscathed minus Matt Fagerson, who failed an HIA assessment, but Smith provided some positive news. 

Franco Smith provided encouraging news over Matt Fagerson’s fitness (Image: Getty Images) He added: “He failed his HIA but just before the Cardiff game, Joe Roberts ran into me just before we left for Cardiff and I had to do HIA 1, 2 and 3. I couldn’t pass the first, the second or the third. It’s a tough question to get those numbers at the back end.

“I think HIA 2 and HIA 3 will be the more important ones (for Fagerson). He looks 100%, no concerns, no specific place in his head where he’s hurting. Maybe he just got the questions wrong. Hopefully we’ll get that sorted out.”