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Glasgow player ratings vs Toulon | 2023 Challenge Cup
By Ian Cameron
Glasgow player ratings: Franco Smith’s men got run over here, looking flaccid in attack and defence in a disappointing night for the Scottish side. Frankly, it was men against boys for much of it, with unforced errors in the red zone destroying any chance Glasgow had of making a game of it.
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15. Oliver Smith – 5
Lucky to escape sanction for a seatbelt tackle that failed to stop Baptiste Serin. Was one of the Glasgow’s brighter attacking weapons, although that’s not saying much going off tonight’s tepid collective performance.
14. Sebastian Cancelliere – 5
The Argentine saw a bit action in the first half, a decent breakout down the right flank sticking out. A poor decision in the 47th minute fluffed a near certain Glasgow try. Probably deserved Glasgow’s consolation try.
13. Huw Jones – 4
A game Jones will do better to forget as it largely passed him by. Part of a lethargic Glasgow attack that would have struggled to burst a crisp packet. His spilled pass in the 54th minute summed up proceedings.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 6
One of the few Glasgow backs who could say he gave a half decent account of himself, his embarrassing second-half reception spill aside.
11. Kyle Steyn (c) – 7
A couple of half decent carries but didn’t really worry RCT’s backline until the 55th minute when he didn’t brilliantly to dummy his way through the Toulon defence. He struck again in the 73rd minute will another smart inside line.
10. Domingo Miotti – 5
Vacillated wildly between looking out of his depth at times and moments of real competence. Hard to argue he justified his selection.
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9. George Horne – 5
Struggled to keep pace up with Serin, who was the star of the show early on. Toulon found it too easy to slow down him down at the base of the ruck.
1. Jamie Bhatti – 5
The loosehead could barely contain Beka Gigashvili in the opening exchanges, even if it was Fagerson on the other side that had the worst of it. Grew into the game, a dominant 39th minute scrum penalty standing out.
2. Fraser Brown – 4
A game pockmarked by errors, with Glasgow’s lineout bordering on an omnishambles. Things got better when Matthews came on.
3. Zander Fagerson – 4
Was under pressure from the off at set-piece, with Dany Priso absolutely melting the Lions prop in the first 30 or so minutes. As with Bhatti, battled back into the game at the set-piece at least.
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4. JP du Preez – 6
The giant South African carried competently for a big man and gave as good as he got with in the close exchanges. Maybe lacked the dynamism of his opposing numbers.
5. Scott Cummings – 4
Usually a solid lineout bet, his failure to take the ball in the 18th minute lead to Toulon’s second try. Wasn’t effective here.
6. Matt Fagerson – 5.5
Another lineout spiller. Stayed in the fight, a turnover at the start of second half yards from the Toulon line sadly coming to nothing for the Scots.
7. Sione Vailanu – 5
Playing at seven, presumably to combat the Toulon size advantage, but didn’t exert the physical dominance he’d be used to in the URC. Darge, had he started, might have offered more by way of ground-hogging.
8. Jack Dempsey
A first half to forget for the Aussie, who was of a number of sinners when it came to Glasgow’s error stricken attack.
Replacements – 6: Ali Price was an improvement on Horne as was Johnny Matthews on Brown. Toulon handsome lead ultimately saw their effort wain and the Glasgow reinforcements saw the benefit.
