Glasgow Warriors reaction: Crowd's impact, more injuries and a new 10

The result, combined with the Stormers’ 38-38 draw with Ulster in Belfast, took Glasgow back to the top of standings in the United Rugby Championship.

Coming on the back of successive defeats against Toulon, the Lions and the Stormers, it was a welcome boost as the URC regular season reaches its climax. If Glasgow can notch another bonus-point win away at Ulster next Friday they will hold on to top spot and have home advantage in the play-offs.

Being back at Scotstoun certainly seemed to benefit them against Cardiff and Smith was pleased with the input from a noisy home support during the annual Plaster It Purple fixture as the club raised funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

“It was about getting back to what we do well,” said the Warriors coach. “Like I said before the game, I knew it was going to be tough. Obviously we planned to play in the European Cup semi-final [Glasgow lost to Toulon in the quarters] so the tour of South Africa must be put in perspective. So to come here tonight and just get back to some of the things we're working on was better again.

“Obviously the crowd played its role so I'm happy with the result although I think there's still a lot that we need to get confident in again.

“We made mistakes but we moved the ball well around and we ran hard. The defence was much better.”

Glasgow scored six tries, through Johnny Matthews (two), Jack Dempsey, Kyle Steyn, Patrick Schickerling and Kyle Rowe, but there were injuries too. Flanker Rory Darge came off early in the second half and lock Alex Samuel also had to be replaced. Sione Tuipulotu came off near the end and Smith said the centre was suffering from cramp.

The coach tried to stay positive on Darge. “It's a rib cartilage injury so it's a little bit of a contusion so it will all depend on how quickly he recovers,” said Smith. “But it's not that serious, it won't keep them out for the rest of the season if I can put it that way.”

Samuel, meanwhile, twisted his ankle. It has also emerged that Huw Jones has a toe injury. The centre wasn’t involved against Cardiff but was spotted in a medical boot.

“He injured his toe against the Stormers, underneath his toe,” explained Smith. “But he'll be out of the boot over the weekend so he should be back, not training but back running or moving at least without the boot from next week on. The aim is to have them all available for the quarter-finals so there's a couple of weeks to get them ready.”

The URC quarter-final is scheduled for May 29 and the coach is hopeful that long-term injury victims Jamie Dobie, Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings could all be available.

Smith experimented towards the end of the Cardiff game by bringing on Ollie Smith at stand-off. The Scotland international has played previously at full-back, wing and centre but Smith believes he could have a future at 10.

“I think he's a good rugby player,” said the coach. “The way we use our 10s and the way Tom Jordan stepped into that role, it's similar. I'm excited about the fact that he stepped up and it looks like he's been playing there for a long time. I'm very happy with that.

“I think he's a good rugby player and we need to find ways to get him on the pitch. I definitely think he can become a fly-half, or at least a back-up fly-half.

“If he develops well, you never know. I've got a lot of confidence in what I've seen in the last two weeks. There were a couple of times when I was tempted to do that. He's done a great job tonight across all aspects of what's expected from a ten. I'm quite happy with that.”