Glasgow smash Scarlets in European Champions Cup

Glasgow Warriors got their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign on track by beating the Scarlets 43-6 at Scotstoun Stadium.

Glasgow outscored the Scarlets by six tries to none in a physical Pool 3 match that has almost certainly ended the Welsh side’s campaign hopes.

Australian wing Taqele Naiyaravoro joined Thom Evans as the only player to score three tries in a match for the Warriors in 99 games in the top flight of European club rugby and he could have had four if his feet had been a fraction smaller.

The 6ft 5in, 19st 9lb giant showed off his full range of skills in the first half when he caught a ball that was heading for touch high over his shoulder, seemingly kept his feet inside the touch-line and then ran through three defenders to reach the line. It would have been a brilliant solo effort, but the TMO ruled his toe had touched the whitewash as he caught the ball.

The Scarlets, who had beaten the Warriors in an earlier trip to Scotstoun this season, were well below full strength because of injuries, but were well below par after a competitive first half that ended 10-3 in favour of the home side.

Duncan Weir got Glasgow off to a flying start with a try after seven minutes that he converted, but the Scarlets defence stood firm against wave after wave of attacks in the opening 40 minutes.

Steve Shingler kicked a penalty to make it 7-3, Naiyaravoro had his try ruled out, Stuart Hogg dropped a gift-wrapped early Christmas present from Shingler with a suicide inside pass five metres from his line, but it was still anyone’s game at the break.

And when Shingler cut the gap to four points with his second penalty shortly after the re-start it looked as though it might be much closer than it ended. But the Warriors eventually wore down the home defenders, created some gaps and made hay!

Hooker James Malcolm marked his Champions Cup debut with a try at the posts after a highly effective driving line-out move and then Naiyravoro ran through three defenders to grab the third home score. The bonus point try came from the same player as he latched onto a pin-point cross kick from Finn Russell.

There was one final flourish from the Warriors with replacement lock Tim Swinson crashing over in the last move of the game and they are now back in the hunt in Pool 3.

Final Score Glasgow Warriors 43 (10) Scarlets 6 (3)

Scorers

Glasgow Warriors
Tries – Weir, Malcolm, Naiyaravoro 3, Swinson
Pen – Weir
Con – Weir 2, Russell 3
Drop –

Scarlets
Tries –
Pen – Shingler 2
Con –
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France),
Assistant ref: Sebastien Minery (France),
Assistant ref: Thomas Dejean (France),
TMO: Vincent Azoulay (France),
Citing Commissioner: Shaun Gallagher (England)

Teams

Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg; Taqele Naiyaravoro, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Tommy Seymour; Duncan Weir, Mike Blair; Ryan Grant, James Malcolm, Sila Puafisi, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray (c), Josh Strauss, Simone Favaro, Adam Ashe

Replacements: Shalva Mamukashvili, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Robert Harley, Grayson Hart, Finn Russell, Sean Lamont

Scarlets: Steff Evans; Harry Robinson, Regan King, Gareth Owen, Michael Tagicakibau; Steven Shingler, Gareth Davies; Phil John, Emyr Phillips (c), Rhodri Jones, George Earle, Tom Price, Lewis Rawlins, Tom Phillips, Morgan Allen

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Dylan Evans, Samson Lee, Maselino Paulino, Jack Condy, Rhodri Williams, Aled Thomas, Mike Collins

With thanks to EPCRugby