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A Kyle Steyn-inspired Glasgow Warriors battled back against underdogs Connacht in Scotstown in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals.
Glasgow won three of five tries in an impressive quarter-final, with the on-fire Steyn getting two of them in a performance of pure class in attack and defence.
Not only did he cross twice but he prevented a certain Connacht score with a lung-busting effort in the first half that brought Scotstown to its feet.
The Warriors will play either the Bulls or Munster in the semi-finals at Murrayfield next Saturday – and the National Stadium will also be the venue should Glasgow go to the final.
After leveling at the break at 7-7 – Glasgow’s Patrick Schickling canceled out an early score from visiting captain Cian Prendergast – the hosts hit the men from the west of Ireland with two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Steyn, a huge presence, and Josh McKay hit Connacht with a quick double hammy.
The audience was made of serious stuff, though. They were always alive, even with Shipping injured midway through the game and Dave Heffernan’s try just after the hour – combined with Glasgow’s Alex Samuel’s sin-binning – made it a seven-pointer at 21-14.
If those were nervy moments for the home side, they dealt with them brilliantly. Four minutes after Heffernan narrowed the gap, Jare Oguntibeju picked up the side of the ruck and skipped past the post to score.
The big lock’s running style was odd, to say the least, but it was a critical intervention, all the more so as replacement prop Finley Belham pounced to cut the gap to seven minutes later, once Sam Gilbert went over for the third time in extras.
A game of tit-for-tat scoring continued when Steyn went over for his second six minutes from time. For once, the conversion was missed.
Glasgow saw it. They weren’t the best in their vintage – they need to find more gear if they want to win this thing – but they had game-breaking class when they needed it most and Steyn embodied it.
Connacht were tough opponents. They exploded up the URC table and into the final knockout spots courtesy of great form in the final months of the campaign.
They had a huge task in the back yard of the table toppers – especially given their injury list – but they started brilliantly, firing over the Glasgow line in the first minute. The Warriors survived the first attack but not the second.
Bundy Aki was at the heart of it, then Josh Ione was in his wake. A few quick balls and Prendergast was gone. Gilbert made it 7-0 and Scotstown were ever so slightly muted.
Connacht coach Stuart Lancaster, father of Glasgow fly-half Dan, said during the week that they had nothing to lose and played like a side with a sense of independence. They had a great try-scoring record in their strong run-in and it was married to the best defense in the tournament. It always looked like a fun game for Glasgow.
They responded though. Shikarling’s score from close-range was a lot of patience to build pressure and wait for the moment to strike. The prop threw itself, George Horne converted and it was level.
Connacht conceded an early penalty and tighthead Sam Ilo was sin-binned for offside shortly after Glasgow scored. For a moment it looked like the favorites had punished them in quick succession but Jonny Matthews’ effort was ruled out after Matt Fagerson broke early from a maul.
Yet, there was time left for them to sin, during which they did nothing. It was Connacht that posed the biggest threat in that minute, with the dominant Ioin surging downfield after a Glasgow spill.
The fly-half was poached by Steyn – a superb defensive play – but the hosts still had work to do. That job was done emphatically when Ben Murphy broke free in the tackle. Glasgow cleared the danger and Scotstown found its voice.
The Warriors could catch fire at any moment, of course, and it was captain Steyn who caught fire early in the second half.
He was a huge presence all night as he launched 50-22, which was the catalyst for the score to put Glasgow ahead. He started and finished. When the line-out fumble stopped, Sione Twipultu took out a couple of defenders with a pass to Steyn, who ran into space and over the line.
The conversion was good and Glasgow had their noses in front. Fagerson scored soon after but the second try was disallowed, rightly so. A forward pass for them.
The try deluge ensued and the Scotstown crowd were kept on their toes until Steyn made things right with his second try to extend the gap to a dozen points.
At Murrayfield next Saturday, then, with the scent of glory in their nostrils.
