Eyes on the bigger picture

Eyes on the bigger picture

Ever since stepping through the front door at Scotstoun a shade over two years ago, it has always been the bigger picture that has been front and centre to Franco Smith.

That philosophy brought Glasgow Warriors a first-ever European final after one season, and an historic BKT United Rugby Championship title triumph at the end of his second campaign at the helm.

So whilst a 31-0 reverse for his youthful squad at the hands of Zebre Parma was not in the pre-season plan ahead of the 2024/25 campaign getting underway later this month, the result in his side’s pre-season opener was very far from the sole objective for Smith and his charges at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

“First of all, we must give all the credit to Zebre,” Smith told glasgowwarriors.org following the defeat.

“That was probably the best Zebre performance they have ever given against us – they were physical, they were well-drilled and they executed their game plan superbly. They will pose challenges to every team in the URC this season.

“Secondly, the objective of this match was always to bring our young team through and give them exposure to this kind of test. We are going to bring our U23 players through in our A team programme this season, and we have a lot of international players that will only join our training from Monday morning onwards, so the objective of this match was to introduce these guys to what it will take to succeed in professional rugby. They will know how far they must push themselves, and they know that winning the URC did not come easy.

“Obviously we did not want to lose by 31 points, but we wanted to bring our young players into the matchday environment, with one eye on developing these players for Scotland for the 2031 Rugby World Cup cycle. This is the voyage that we want to bring these young players on.

“We have to identify players in these matches that we believe can step up into our environment and step into our team when our front-line internationals are away with Scotland or their respective countries. That has nothing to do with our preparations for the league. We’ve worked together for three or four weeks, and this match now shows our young players the standard that is required from them.”

With 14 players getting their first run-out in Glasgow colours, Smith was quick to highlight the efforts of his young squad on a stiflingly warm evening in northern Italy.

From academy prospects to those making a welcome return to action from the treatment room, it was a squad that highlighted both the youth and potential within the 2024/25 crop of Warriors.

“I thought a lot of our young players gave a good account of themselves,” said Smith.

“I thought Jare [Oguntibeju] and Ryan [Burke] both stood up impressively in the second-row – they are two young men and young athletes that have a lot of potential, and I thought they acquitted themselves very well around the field. Callum McFeat Smith, too, is an example of a player that we believe can make the step up from Super Series or Premiership action – we’ve had him in our environment for a while now and he gave a good account of himself.

“Our young backs, too, in Johnny Ventisei, Fergus Watson, Kerr Johnston and Amena Caqusau – these players hadn’t previously experienced this level of opposition, and whilst we always want to go out and win, winning was not the only objective tonight.

“Jack Mann and Richie Simpson have spent so much time on the sidelines due to injury, so it was very good to see them go out there tonight and come through a physical encounter. We believe both players have real potential, and that’s another example of the objectives we set prior to this match.

“We know that to be a great team we must have a great squad, and continuing to build our depth with quality players competing across every position can only benefit both ourselves and Scottish rugby.”

A similarly youthful squad is likely to take to the field next weekend at Scotstoun, as Connacht visit Glasgow’s west end for The Famous Grouse Pre-Season Friendly next Saturday night.

Once again, however, Smith’s eyes are on that bigger picture, which continues to be at the forefront of his mind as the new season comes closer into view.

“Our focus is, and will continue to be, to get our players match-ready for that trip to Ulster in round one of the URC,” he said.

“That match is on Saturday 21 September, and as of full-time tonight we are still in August – we have plenty of time.

“We have a plan that we have constructed and that we have full faith in, and we know there is no need to panic.”

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