Glasgow Warriors made a statement on the opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship, travelling to Thomond Park and coming away with a bonus point victory over Munster in what was a seriously encouraging start to the season.
Head coach Franco Smith was full of praise for his side after the result, highlighting a key quality within the squad that he believes made the difference on Irish soil. For Smith, it was not just about the scoreline but about how the Warriors went about getting it.
Thomond Park is one of the toughest away days in European club rugby. Munster have built their entire identity around that ground, and the atmosphere alone has been enough to sink plenty of visiting sides over the years. Glasgow heading there on day one of the new season and leaving with maximum points is no small thing.
Smith was keen to stress that the performance reflected something deeper than just a good day at the office. The Warriors showed a collective resilience and belief that he feels has been building within the group, and he was clearly proud of the way they handled the occasion.
Glasgow have been building steadily under Smith, and there has been a growing sense that this squad has the tools to compete seriously at the top end of the URC. Last season gave them plenty of lessons, and the early signs suggest those lessons have been taken on board.
Winning away from home with a bonus point requires a team to not only play well but to stay switched on for the full eighty minutes. Picking up that fourth try when a team might otherwise settle for the win and head for the bus takes a certain kind of character. Smith clearly sees that character as one of the defining traits of this current Warriors group.
For the players, starting the campaign with a result like this sets the tone early. Confidence in rugby is a fragile thing, and getting a win of this quality in the first game of the season can carry a squad a long way. The mood in the Glasgow camp will be high heading into the weeks ahead.
Munster will be bitterly disappointed to have lost at home in the opening round, and they will no doubt be looking to bounce back quickly. But from a Glasgow perspective, this was exactly the kind of performance that signals genuine ambition for the season ahead.
The Warriors will be looking to build on this result as the URC schedule gets underway in earnest. With a squad that appears to have real depth and a coaching team that has worked hard on developing a clear identity, there is genuine reason for optimism among the Glasgow support.
Smith summed it up well after the final whistle. His side went to one of the most hostile venues in the competition, performed under pressure, and came home with five points. That is the kind of start that can define a season.
Brilliant start from the Warriors, proper clinical performance. Munster looked all over the place in that second half to be fair. Hopefully we can keep this form going rather than the usual mid season collapse we always seem to manage lol.