Marcus Smith stars again in Harlequins Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers Harlequins 28 Glasgow Warriors 24
Harlequins cruised past Glasgow Warriors into the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup after a gutsy second-half performance rewarded Marcus Smith's earlier brilliance.
England scored one try in the first half and scored two more before the break, but the hosts needed to save themselves from collapse and defeat as Glasgow, with the excellent Sione Tuipulotu and George Horne, were good enough to take a 24-21 lead. A try four minutes from time, scored by Sam Riley, sealed the scoring.
Even if a trip to Bordeaux seems more likely, Harlequins will be watching Saturday's match and dreaming of a tasty home game with Saracens. They could bring back Chandler Cunningham-South next weekend to bolster them. Smith admitted the triumph had taken the monkey off his back as Harlequins had suffered two consecutive exits in their last 16 matches of the season.
“The fans complain that they're always on edge,” Smith said. “Whenever we're ahead, we let the other team pass, and that's what we're trying to work on: consistency.”
The game capped a three-game period following the Six Nations which Billy Millard, Harlequins' director of rugby, described as “defining” for the season as a whole. After a demoralizing defeat to Saracens and a frantic win over Bath, characterized by a thrilling attack and shaky defence, the opportunity to reach a first quarter-final in this competition – and its previous incarnations – since 2013 emerged.
Glasgow, second in the United Rugby Championship and full of Scotland players, made a start that dashed such hopes. They scored on their first possession, a patient attack fueled by carries from Tuipulotu, making his first appearance since a knee injury in February's win over England at Murrayfield, as well as Kyle Stein, Tom Jordan and Jack Dempsey. Busy Scott Cummings, outstanding in the Calcutta Cup win, buried in from close range. Only four minutes had passed.
The visitors fended off a series of mauls and survived through Kadan Murley's try line. Errors in the lineout stifled Harlequins and their frustration was expressed in Tyrone Green's ill-judged quick throw to Murley which saw the latter brought down for his 22 goals.
Alex Dombrandt blew up the field with a sharp break late in the first quarter. Although he was unable to put Louis Lin out of the game, Glasgow's indiscipline did the rest. Will Evans ran into the jackal and Harlequins were back in the corner. Smith found Andre Esterhuizen with a subtle hint. The kick fell into the hands of the South African and the conversion on the touchline equalized the score. The ruck was a mess but Harlequins found themselves drawn into their opponents' 22 with a couple more penalties.
After two more, Tuipulota was sent to the bin for sliding offside from a scrum. Harlequins elected to throw in and, despite a shorthanded defense with the Warriors backline compromised by Jamie Dobie, the reserve scrum-half filling in on the wing, Smith charged wide. He brushed past Horn and Rory Durge and moved on.
🤩 @MarcuSmith10 creating pieces of magic ✨
🎥 @rugbyontnt #COYQ #HARvGLA
pic.twitter.com/i03nNzh2S6
— Harlequins 🃏 (@ Harlequins) April 5, 2024
By this point, Glasgow were not on the side of referee Tuala Trainini. A late tackle from Steyn on Green allowed Smith to turn the ball into the corner. When the maul broke, he moved to the short side and into Danny Care's pass to pass the ball to Murley. Harlequins led 21–7 at half-time.
The Warriors, reduced to 14 players, also trailed 12-2 in penalties. Dombrandt's tricky interception a meter from the line thwarted Glasgow's response early in the second period, but Jonny Matthews reduced the gap at the tail end of the maul with half an hour remaining. Horne's conversion brought Glasgow to within seven points, with the running scrum-half linking up with his trademark support line, linking inside with brilliant work from Dobie and Steyn.
The situation changed with the advent of Trainini. Evans, who had been relentless in winning the ball, was trapped behind the ball and Horne converted the penalty to restore Glasgow's lead after the hour. Harlequins looked to provide a spark but were met only with misfortune as Joe Marler saw a yellow card for a high tackle on Darge. That they didn't miss a beat in the next 10 minutes was a testament to remarkable and determined grit.
Marler's return led to a scrum penalty and Riley pulled out a powerful maul. Smith, naturally, converted and Stoop exploded as Duncan Weir's cross towards Horn bounced into touch for the final play.
Match details
Score:0-5 try for Cummings, 0-7 try for Horn, 5-7 try for Esterhuizen, 7-7 try for Smith. 12-7 Smith try, 14-7 Smith try, 19-7 Murley try, 21-7 Smith try, 21-12 Matthews try, 21-14 Horn try, 21-19 Horn try, 21-21 Horn try, 21- 24 Horne penalties, 26-24 Riley try, 28-24 Smith conversion
Yellow cards: Tuipulotu 33, Marler 61
Harlequins: T Green; L. Linag, O. Beard, A. Esterhuizen, S. Merli; M Smith, D Care; F. Baxter (J. Marler 40), J. Walker (S. Riley 69), W. Collier (D. Lewis 58), I. Herbst (J. Lawnbury 54), J. Hammond (W. Trenholm, 65), S. Lewis (T. Lawday), 69-73), W. Evans A. Dombrandt
Unused subs: M. Green, K. Anderson
Glasgow Warriors: J Mackay, K Steyn, S McDowell, S Tuipulotu, K Rowe (J Dobie 22); T Jordan (D Weir 69), J Horne; N. McBeth (O. Kebble 60), J. Matthews (J. Hiddleston 60), Z. Fagerson (L. Sordoni 60), M. Williamson (S. Mangezi 60), S. Cummings, M. Fagerson (H. Venter, 60), R. Darge, Jay Dempsey
Substitution not used: A. Miller
Referee: T. Trainini< /p>
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