Reality check for Lions stars as woeful defeat all but dashes Glasgow Warriors' top-two hopes

Daily Mail​

12-05-2025

After the euphoria at Scotstoun last Thursday when the British and Irish Lions squad was announced, this was a major reality check for Glasgow Warriors.
Just a couple of days after having four players selected for the summer tour of Australia, everyone at the club came back down to earth with a bump.
A woeful 33-7 defeat to Benetton in Italy will surely rank as one of the poorest results and performances of the Franco Smith era at Warriors.
The Italians ran in five tries and were dominant throughout, denting Glasgow's chances of finishing second in the URC standings.
Warriors will head to Dublin this weekend to face leaders Leinster in the final game of the regular season. That would be a tall order at any point.
But, on the basis of this display, and also given that Glasgow lost 52-0 to Leinster only a few weeks ago in the Champions Cup, it could be three figures if they don't buck up their ideas.
Glasgow are still certain to make the play-offs, but it is starting to feel like months of dealing with injuries to key players is beginning to catch up with them.
The reigning champions are limping into the play-offs. Momentum has been lost and the sooner they get their big hitters back, the better.
Huw Jones, one of the four Lions, made his return from a hand injury on Saturday and scored a consolation try.
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu is expected to be back for the trip to Dublin, with the fitness of Zander Fagerson still unclear.
Scott Cummings was the other Lion picked in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad and Glasgow need him back to his dynamic best as soon as possible.
On a desperately deflating defeat, head coach Smith said: 'We're all very disappointed about this.
'But we're going to take the positives out of this in the sense that we can't be second now basically. I think that is unnecessary baggage we're carrying around now.
'Hopefully, with that out of the way, we can just approach the quarter-finals with clear minds, continue to learn from these mistakes and get back to being ourselves next week.
'We needed this. A disappointment like this can be a positive sometimes and I hope to turn this into a positive.
'Compliments to Benetton. They have got a good team here and obviously bounced back after the loss against Stormers.
'We have got a lot of work to do. We've got to fix a couple of things and we'll be excited to get out there next week.
'Well done to them, they filled the field, put their bodies on the line and showed a lot of character.'
Meanwhile, Cummings admits it was a dream come true to hear his name called out as a British and Irish Lion.
The big lock missed all of Scotland's Six Nations campaign and knew that selection would be touch and go.
'I still remember getting up early to watch the 2013 tour to Australia, so these are the sort of moments that I've dreamed of for years,' he said. 'I wasn't even sure if I was in contention because I haven't played too much recently with my injury.
'I thought that might have been my chances over. I was gutted not getting to represent Scotland as well because the injury was just the week before.
'I was just trying to fight to get back as quick as I could. We've obviously got some massive games coming up for Glasgow.
'Every time you get injured, coaches always tell you it will help you out at the back end of the season.
'In some ways it has — I've not had the aches and pains some of the other boys have probably had who have played.
'Having a bit of time out has given me a chance to refresh and I'm ready to crack in at the end of the season.
'This is just the beginning. Being selected for the tour is just the first moment of it. We're going over there as a squad and we've got to try and gel as quick as we can.
'I've no idea when we meet up or how it all works but I'm excited to find out about it and crack into it.'