Glasgow Warriors delivered a commanding performance to defeat Saracens 28-3 at Scotstoun, securing top spot in their Champions Cup pool and a coveted home draw in the last 16. The victory sets up a clash with South African side the Bulls on the first weekend of April.
Warriors Dominate From the Start
The home side seized control early, with the majority of the points coming in a blistering first-half display. Ollie Smith opened the scoring, finishing off a move that started with a powerful Alex Craig carry. Saracens' only reply was a solitary Owen Farrell penalty after Glasgow were penalised for offside.
The game's momentum swung decisively when Saracens flanker Juan Martín González was shown a yellow card for slapping the ball away. Glasgow capitalised immediately, scoring two tries in quick succession to underline their dominance.
Steyn and Horne Shine in Glasgow Rout
Kyle Steyn raced onto a neat George Horne pass to score under the posts, before Horne turned from provider to scorer. The scrum-half crossed after a rampaging carry from number eight Jack Dempsey, giving Glasgow a commanding lead at the break.
Saracens, who will now face Premiership champions Bath in the knockout stage, struggled to gain any foothold. Glasgow sealed the bonus-point victory in the final seconds, with replacement Seb Stephen rumbling over from a driving maul.
Quins' French Stunner Sends Leicester Through
In a dramatic twist elsewhere, Harlequins pulled off a surprise 27-17 victory away to two-time champions La Rochelle. Marcus Smith's late penalty not only secured the win but also eliminated the French giants, sending Leicester Tigers into the last 16.
La Rochelle needed only a losing bonus point to progress but were undone by a late Quins flourish. Tom Lawday's try and Smith's conversion and penalty in the closing minutes broke La Rochelle hearts, consigning them to the Challenge Cup.
"The club and myself lost big tonight, it's unacceptable," said a frustrated La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara. "It's especially unacceptable when you see the number of opportunities we had to stay in the competition."
In other results, Northampton Saints' 43-28 win over Scarlets, featuring a hat-trick from Edoardo Todaro, confirmed the Bulls' progression and eliminated the Welsh region.
Confirmed Champions Cup Last-16 Ties
- Bordeaux Bègles v Leicester Tigers
- Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
- Leinster v Edinburgh
- Bath v Saracens
- Northampton Saints v Castres
- Harlequins v Sale Sharks
- Toulon v Stormers
- Toulouse v Bristol Bears
All ties are scheduled to be played on the weekend of 3-5 April.
