Following a 35-19 victory for Glasgow Warriors over the Sharks in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash, here’s our five takeaways from the game at Scotstoun.
The top line
Glasgow Warriors got their United Rugby Championship campaign off to a positive start as they overcame an under-strength Sharks side on their home turf on Friday.
While it wasn’t pretty, they got the job done in a game they would have targeted for five points as Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, Rory Darge and Jamie Dobie scored before a late penalty try added the icing. George Horne kicked four conversions in a steady performance at the base as the Scots’ title challenge is up and running.
For the Sharks, their tries came via excellent new signing Edwill van der Merwe, Vincent Tshituka and Lukhanyo Am, with Jaden Hendrikse slotting two conversions.
Perseverance pays off
A classic it was not, as this wasn’t a great advert for the tournament. The Warriors tried their damnedest to up the tempo, and if not for being wasteful in the first period, they would have been out of sight. Ultimately, chances went begging, which only added to the fractured nature of the game as those watching craved excitement.
Finally, that came in the second half as Glasgow turned the screw with those crossings from Darge, Dobie, and the late penalty try to secure a maximum on opening night.
Lack of star quality telling
Injuries, rest and international absentees impacted both sides in their season opener as star quality such as Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth were all missing. The Sharks, in particular, were affected, and this, of course, will carry on as this year’s Rugby Championship continues to play out.
Missing double figures’ worth of Springboks would hinder any team, but this is nothing new for Sharks fans as their international contingent are absent for this early part of the URC season. Ultimately, the drop in standard is marked, and the Sharks appeared to be lacking direction and leadership as they came off second best.
A bright spark out wide
We could easily be talking about Glasgow wing Rowe after his solid outing. However, new Sharks signing Van der Merwe was electric on his debut as he grafted all match.
The Springboks flyer is a talent and packs a punch for someone his size, and Rassie Erasmus will surely be happy with how he fared, as he no doubt watched from Durban.
A strong early season should result in his recall for the year-end tour, but it is clear already that the Lions’ loss will be very much the Sharks’ gain during this URC season.
Leading by example
Van der Merwe might have been impressive, but the official Player of the Match award went to Glasgow Warriors openside Darge following a typical all-action performance.
Such a mobile player who carried both in the tight and out wide with purpose, the flank was also his usual threat at the breakdown as he led Glasgow to the full five points.
Darge might have been overlooked by the British & Irish Lions earlier this summer, but in another era he would surely have been a talismanic figure in red, such is his quality.
READ MORE: How to watch Round One, kick-off times and match officials