Glasgow Warriors maintained their perfect record in this season’s Champions Cup to see off a battling Bulls side 25-21 and book their place in the quarter-finals.
The Warriors trailed at the break, with three Handre Pollard penalties and a try from hooker Johan Grobbelaar giving the South Africans a 14-12 lead.
But Glasgow remained in touch thanks to tries from Max Williamson and Jack Dempsey, with Dan Lancaster adding one conversion.
And the Warriors took control after the break thanks to tries from the outstanding Patrick Schickerling and Stafford McDowall, while a late penalty from Adam Hastings sealed victory after Marco van Staden’s late try set up a tense finale.
Here are five talking points from Scotstoun.
Glasgow show great fight and composure despite slow start
Uncharacteristically, it took Franco Smith’s side some time to hit their stride, with the Bulls dominating for large spells of the first half.
The visitors started brighter and were rewarded on 12 minutes when Pollard landed a straightforward penalty despite dreadful conditions at Scotstoun.
Glasgow had a chance to hit back immediately but twice turned down three points in favour of the corner. It looked a good decision as returning captain Kyle Steyn broke the line from a clever lineout move, but Matt Fagerson was unable to hold on to Sione Tuipulotu’s pass and the visitors cleared.
Undeterred, the Warriors did not take long to land their first blow of the night, as Stafford McDowall cut through before linking with Matt Fagerson and George Horne.
The scrum-half was expertly dragged down by Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar, only for Max Williamson to pounce and dive under the sticks. Dan Lancaster’s conversion put the Warriors in front.
Pollard kicked two further penalties to ensure the visitors remained in front at half-time despite Jack Dempsey crashing over for Glasgow’s second try.
Points make prizes but Glasgow determined to do it their way
When Glasgow won the United Rugby Championship in 2024, they tweaked their approach in the play-offs, taking points when they were on offer. In dreadful conditions, they needed some of that pragmatism here.
Kyle Steyn’s decision not to ask Lancaster to kick for goal in the first half was understandable given the position of the penalties and the strength of the wind, but when Glasgow earned a penalty in front of the posts early in the second half, it was a simple enough kick to regain the lead.
Steyn again opted for the corner but Gregor Hiddleston’s lineout went astray, and the Bulls were let off the hook.
Glasgow are determined to do things their way, but finally knocked over a penalty with the final play to run down the clock.
McDowall moments help turn the tide in Glasgow’s favour
The centre, preferred to Huw Jones, was instrumental in Glasgow’s opening score, while he also added his weight to the maul from which Dempsey scored, but there was better still to come.
A thunderous kick from inside his own in-goal area sent the Bulls back inside their own 22 and when Pollard sliced the clearance, handed Glasgow a chance to attack.
It also got the Scotstoun crowd, who were unusually subdued, involved for just about the first time. A penalty followed with the Bulls offside and finally the visitors’ resistence was broken as Schickerling drove over.
Shortly after, a fabulous steal from Rory Darge relieved pressure on Glasgow’s line, before Pollard sent an ambitious cross-field kick out on the full to give Glasgow territory and possession.
And the centre was rewarded with the game’s crucial score eight minutes from time, as he powered over in the corner to secure the win and seal Glasgow’s last eight place.
Squad strength shows despite another injury concern
There won’t be much room left in Glasgow’s treatment room at this rate, with Scotland internationals Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Jamie Dobie, Nathan McBeth, Kyle Rowe and Alex Craig all missing for this one.
And Glasgow’s predicament got worse when George Horne limped off inside half an hour, with Ben Afshar, the third choice scrum-half, his replacement.
But to his credit, Afshar put in an assured display, while others who would not have been considered first-picks at the start of the campaign played their part in another statement win.
Schickerling was excellent in the tight and chipped in with his try, Euan Ferrie added impact from the bench and there was another composed display from Ollie Smith, who has filled the void left by Sebastian Cancelliere last summer, on the left wing.
Home comforts again as Toulon await
This was by a distance Glasgow’s poorest performance in the Champions Cup this season, and they will be delighted to have secured their place in the quarter-finals despite their struggles.
It will not get any easier, and Franco Smith will need his side to be better next weekend when three-time champions Toulon visit Scotstoun.
However, the Warriors will take some comfort from the French side’s defeat to Edinburgh earlier in the season, while they have had a difficult Top 14 campaign and currently sit 11th in the league.
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (captain), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Ollie Smith, Dan Lancaster (Hastings 75), George Horne (Afshar 33); Patrick Schickerling (Bhatti 66), Gregor Hiddleston (Stephen 66), Zander Fagerson (Talakai 66), Max Williamson (Ferrie 52), Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge (Fraser 73), Jack Dempsey
Tries: Williamson (18), Dempsey (34), Schickerling (57), McDowall (72)
Conversion: Lancaster (19)
Penalty: Hastings (80)
Bulls: David Kriel, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse (Gans 40), Handre Pollard (Le Roux 73), Embrose Papier (Burger 73); Gerhard Steenekamp (Wessels 66), Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper (Smith 66), Ruan Vermaak (Wiese 69), Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (captain) (Van Staden 61), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom (Rudolph 51)
Tries: Grobbelaar (24), van Staden (76)
Conversion: Kriel (77)
Penalties: Pollard (12, 31, 39)
Yellow card: Louw (79)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Attendance: 7,321
Player of the Match: Stafford McDowall
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