GLASGOW WARRIORS V RACING 92: FIVE TAKEAWAYS AS SIONE TUIPULOTU THE ‘HEARTBEAT’ OF ‘RUTHLESS’ CHAMPIONS CUP WIN

Following a 29-19 victory for Glasgow Warriors against Racing 92 in the Investec Champions Cup, here’s our five takeaways from the fixture at Scotstoun on Friday.

The top line

Emphatic. Glasgow were ruthless early on in this five-try bonus-point victory that sent a message to their tournament rivals that they mean business once again this season.

Tries from George Horne, Jamie Dobie, Sebastian Cancelliere, Kyle Steyn and Rory Darge saw Franco Smith’s charges to the victory in a match that was over early on.

It puts the slick Warriors at the summit of Pool 4, four points above Toulon who play Harlequins on Sunday. Quins host Glasgow next weekend in a mouth-watering clash.

For Racing 92 their scores came via Vinaya Habosi, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Tristan Tedder as they can at least take solace in how they finished the game at Scotstoun.

Glasgow contenders on both fronts

As mentioned, Smith’s men mean business in 2025 and this performance in freezing temperatures, albeit against a poor Racing 92 team, was a statement of their intent.

Glasgow have class across the board and must be considered serious contenders to follow up last season’s United Rugby Championship title with the Champions Cup.

And why not challenge on both fronts? They boast quality throughout their team and more importantly there’s a clear belief in Smith’s ideas and fluidity in all that they do.

Sione Tuipulotu is the heartbeat of this side but their success is built on a solid set-piece and intelligent attacking game that’s played at high tempo, as was seen tonight.

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More importantly they are ultra consistent as a team as the standings in the URC and Champions Cup show, with the Warriors an outfit to watch come the knockout stages.

Encouraging for Scotland

Glasgow’s form has a knock-on effect on the international stage and one expects that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will have been delighted with this showing.

Tuipulotu was the star player as his all-court game had Racing 92 at sixes and sevens early on as he mixed power, pace, distribution and a nice kicking game on the night.

His partner in crime, Huw Jones, also impressed at centre while Kyle Steyn is a hugely underrated wing who is pressuring a certain Edinburgh duo for Six Nations starts.

Elsewhere, fly-half Tom Jordan is also pressing his case for more Scotland action this Six Nations as his faultless passing and running game was a feature of this victory, while up front the likes of Matt Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson and Johnny Matthews got through the hard yards, setting the ideal platform for the backs.

Pressure mounts on Stuart Lancaster

Is the former England head coach’s position becoming untenable? Just one victory in their last eight games in all competitions makes for grim reading for Racing 92 fans.

Lancaster’s arrival from Leinster was meant to spark the club on to greater heights but it’s been anything but thus far with this pool defeat a concering watch in the first half.

Granted he is without star signing Owen Farrell due to injury and they faced a relentless Glasgow Warriors side earl on but it was another dismal effort until a late fightback.

Defensively they got cut to pieces numerous times with 17 line breaks in the first half killing Racing as they were outclassed and short in all areas as Glasgow shot clear.

Tom Jordan continues to impress

The 26-year-old fly-half is playing the best rugby of his career at the moment and surely his stunning form is catching the eye of Townsend ahead of the upcoming Six Nations.

While there is talk that Saracens signing Fergus Burke could be in line for a call-up, it would be hugely undeserved if he was to usurp this in-form Glasgow playmaker.

Jordan is oozing confidence at the moment and his ability to shine at fly-half and full-back definitely works in his favour as he looks to nail down a place on the bench.

Of course taking over from Finn Russell is the ultimate goal and if Jordan can maintain this impressive level the future is bright when he eventually replaces the 32-year-old.

READ MORE: Champions Cup team news: Tadhg Furlong starts as Jordie Barrett on bench for Leinster while Antoine Dupont leads fully-loaded Toulouse at Sharks

2025-01-10T22:38:49Z