The old saying goes that points make prizes, and Glasgow Warriors had scrum-half George Horne to thank for keeping the Scotstoun scoreboard ticking in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final win over Stormers.
Horne kicked two first-half penalties to give Franco Smith’s side a 6-0 lead at the break, and he converted each of the Warriors’ three tries for a personal haul of 12 points in the 27-10 win.
READ MORE: How the Glasgow Warriors players rated in win over Stormers
Only in the past couple of seasons has the Howe of Fife man established himself as Glasgow’s number one goalkicker, but he revealed it’s been something he’s kept practicing since his days as a fly-half.
Horne said: “I hadn’t kicked for the team until last year but I’ve kept practicing throughout my career.
“Now I’ve been asked to do it again, I’m glad I did keep practicing. On Saturday night they seemed to be going over for me. I missed everything in the warm-up, so thankfully I got all the s**** ones out.
“It was nice to just bang them over and keep the scoreboard ticking over.”
Horne’s accuracy was in stark contrast to Stormers’ fly-half Manie Libbok, who ensured a torrid evening from the tee.
The Springbok missed all four of his attempts at goal, letting 10 points slip from the visitors’ grasp.
When the visitors did get on the scoreboard, though, Glasgow responded immediately, and Horne praised the team's character while admitting responding to adversity hasn’t been something the Warriors have managed at key moments this campaign.
“As a playing group, we’ve maybe not handled those moments well in the past.
“Look at Munster last year, and Harlequins and Exeter this year. We’ve not managed to bounce back from those tough moments, those tough periods in matches.
“Straight from the kick-off on Saturday night, Sione battered down the door and Seba [Cancelliere] produced a magic finish.
“That was a huge moment in the game and it was credit to the whole team, to the leadership group saying all the right things keeping everyone calm and controlled.
“Credit to the coaching staff, too - we’ve worked on those kind of scenarios and it was nice to go out there and actually do it.”
Although Stormers were without Springbok forwards Evan Roos and Deon Fourie, Horne admitted there was a step up in physicality at Scotstoun on Saturday night.
He expects that to intensify further when Glasgow head to Limerick to face defending champions Munster in the last four.
Horne continued: “The physicality of the Stormers game was a step up from regular season matches and it’s going to be another step up against Munster.
“It’s a case of lose and you’re out and that’s the season over. Everyone is so motivated to get the best out of themselves and produce a massive physical effort.”
READ MORE: Franco Smith says Glasgow character never in doubt after Stormers win
Glasgow will travel safe in the knowledge they can win at Thomond Park having done so on their most recent visit to Munster’s spiritual home, a 38-26 win last season.
Horne, though, isn’t reading too much into that.
“Having belief is always nice,” he stated, before adding: “We know how hard it is to win over there. That [win last season] was the first time we had won at Thomond for a long time. At the end of the season and in the play-offs, Munster are a different beast.
“They are the champions for a reason. They’re a top team, especially come these big knockout games. It’s going to be another massive challenge for us but something we’re going to get really excited for and relish.”
Saturday evening’s last four match-up also gives Franco Smith’s side a chance to avenge last season’s quarter-final defeat.
The Scotland scrum-half added: “We’ll look at things that happened last year and see if we can take learnings.
“It was disappointing to lose at home last season and we know we have to play better and execute better on the day.
“We still had opportunities in that game but we weren’t clinical. Hopefully next week we can right those wrongs.”
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