“Stand Up and Battle” the Munster people belt out with gusto earlier than each match. Properly, Glasgow stood tall, they fought they usually gained. Deservedly.
For giant spells in that opening 40, it appeared unlikely. They have been firmly on the unsuitable facet of referee Andrea Piardi. They conceded six penalties within the first 10 minutes, 9 by half-time, and had Richie Grey and Matt Fagerson each despatched to the sin bin.
Not like so many Scottish sides of the latest previous, they problem-solved on the hoof and didn’t permit a troublesome spell to change into a full-blown disaster. The massive gamers stepped up and the sport administration to shut it out was distinctive.
“Credit score to Glasgow, they have been tenacious, they would not go away,” devastated Munster head coach Graham Rowntree instructed BBC Scotland after the match.
“It will sting for a very long time. There is not any tomorrow. It is knockout rugby.”
Munster got here into the semi-final driving the crest of a wave after reeling off 10 wins on the bounce and searching each inch a crew that was able to make it back-to-back URC titles. The Warriors had different concepts.
Given the opposition, the venue, the stakes and the efficiency, this should be filed alongside the perfect shows ever produced by a Scottish facet.
“I am very pleased with the boys,” Glasgow head coach Franco Smith mentioned.
“The very fact they caught to the script once more they usually labored actually onerous, tailored nicely to what was wanted. And underneath troublesome circumstances typically, with the truth that we had two yellow playing cards, so actually pleased with the resilience.
“It was about cool heads. It was clear to all people outdoors that we wished to play to win.
“We have been simply making too many errors the primary half. We turned the ball over, our personal errors, which led to us defending lots of units after which getting penalised unnecessarily and that was the unhealthy spiral we have been in.
“We have been simply attempting to cease the rot from that perspective, be a bit of bit extra calm and answerable for our actions. That was the message at half-time.”
Stopping the rot has been an Achilles heel for Scottish groups in latest occasions. These “unhealthy spirals” recognized by Smith consumed the nationwide crew of their World Cup humiliation towards Eire and the disastrous Six Nations defeat by Italy in Rome.
Glasgow gamers appear to have a more durable edge to them when carrying Warriors strips than they do within the blue of Scotland – and Smith should take a lot of the credit score.
“I hope he’s received the liberty of town now,” former Scotland prop Peter Wright mentioned on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.
“That is two main finals in two seasons. He is actually galvanised a squad of gamers that was a bit rudderless in the direction of the tip of Danny Wilson’s reign.
“They have been struggling, they did not actually have an id. I do not suppose they have been having fun with the way in which Danny Wilson wished them to play, whereas Franco Smith got here in and he is given them route, he is given them a sport plan that all of them appear to take pleasure in.
“He is powerful on them, he is a tough taskmaster, however he is achieved a exceptional job and what I like about him is that he trusts each participant.”
Now Smith’s unbelievable work with Glasgow takes him again to his homeland to face the Bulls, who defeated Leinster, in Pretoria and the possibility to guide Warriors to their first piece of silverware in 9 years.
“It’s been lots of sacrifice,” Smith added. “I’ve lived away from my household this 12 months and am completely grateful that the boys purchased in and gave me one thing to smile about on Saturday.
“However we did not practice and apply to win a semi-final. We want to go all the way in which, so lots of work nonetheless to be achieved this week.”
