Glasgow Warriors reaction: We can come again in Europe despite loss of Scotland five, says Smith

Their bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history was ended by Toulon on Saturday who came from behind to win 22-19.

It was Glasgow’s first defeat at Scotstoun this season and brought to an end a European campaign that saw the Warriors win all four pool stage matches to secure home advantage in the knockout rounds.

A victory over Toulon would have seen them play their semi-final at Murrayfield. Instead it is the French side who go through to the last four to face either Leinster in Dublin.

Five Scotland men to leave in the summer

Jack Dempsey, Huw Jones, Adam Hastings, Johnny Matthews and Jamie Bhatti will all leave Glasgow in the summer, strengthening the feeling that was the club’s best chance to win the Champions Cup but Smith believes they will come again.

“We’ve lost big players before,” said the Warriors coach. “I don't think that's the end of it. I think obviously Jack, Huw, Johnny and Adam, they've contributed massively. But the next guy, the understudies are there. The next guys are there to take over.

“I'm absolutely not concerned. This is a solid club. We believe in significance, not in success. We will continue to produce a very good product, regardless of some of the results. So, whoever comes and goes, the train is not going to stop. It's going to keep going.”

Glasgow led 12-5 through tries from Stafford McDowall and Ollie Smith but conceded two scores before half-time to Jean-Baptiste Gros and Gaël Drean, the latter with his second of the match. Gregor Hiddleston edged the Warriors 19-17 ahead early in the second half but a brilliant solo try from Nacho Brex put Toulon back in the driving seat and they held on to win 22-19.

Drop goal decision explained

The Warriors went through the phases in the final minutes as they tried to find a way through and got close to the Toulon 22 but Smith said they were too far out to go for the drop goal to try to take the match into extra time.

“No, I would rather have preferred a penalty and then make the decision,” he said. “The biggest thing is that if somebody tried to drop a goal and we don't get it, then it's all on one player missing it.”

Glasgow lost Adam Hastings to a head injury and the stand-off will not go with the squad to South Africa for the URC games with the Lions and Stormers. Max Williamson will also miss the tour. The lock had to withdraw from the match-day 23 due to a knee injury and Smith thinks he will be out for four to six weeks with medial collateral ligament damage.

The loss of Williamson adds to Glasgow’s problems in the second row where Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown and Alex Craig are all currently sidelined by injury.