Kyle Steyn singled out for key Glasgow Warriors contribution - and it's not his two tries

The winger led by example at Scotstoun, scoring two tries in the 33-21 win which secured the Warriors’ passage into the semi-finals where they will face the Bulls at Murrayfield on Saturday, the team they beat in the 2024 URC final. The South African side thrashed Munster 45-14 in their quarter-final.

For Franco Smith, it was Steyn’s try-saving tackle on Josh Ioane in the first half that stood out more than the two scores. Sitting alongside his skipper in the Scotstoun weights room after the match, the coach made a point of highlighting Steyn’s crucial intervention which came with the scores locked at 7-7 in the 29th minute.

“I don't like to single out players and I've said this in the changing room as well,” said Smith, turning to address Steyn. “You ended up scoring two tries but it didn't count as much as that one tackle.

“It just proved his leadership through action and it was as if the whole team bought into it straight away and the half-time chat actually was so much easier after that example.”

Modest Steyn plays it down

Steyn seemed almost embarrassed by the attention coming his way and sought to play down his individual contribution which also included a beautifully judged 50:22 which landed in Scotstoun’s south-east corner and led to the lineout from which the winger scored the first of his brace.

Asked if it was his best individual performance in a Warriors jersey, Steyn demurred.

“I've got no idea,” he said. “I haven't even taken the time to process that. I think I'm just happy. In recent weeks, I probably had moments as a captain where I was on the other side of it. I think of that Stormers game [a 48-12 defeat last month] where I wasn’t so good and had moments where I didn’t show any of that. I’m just pretty happy to be out there at this time of year and hopefully be able to make a difference.”

The setbacks in South Africa - Glasgow lost to the Lions as well as the Stormers - didn’t prevent the Warriors finishing the regular URC season in top spot and they are now reaping the rewards in terms of having home advantage in the play-offs.

Murrayfield available for URC final - if required

Friday’s quarter-final win was their last game of the season at Scotstoun which will now be modified and expanded in readiness for hosting athletics at this summer’s Commonwealth Games. Glasgow will train there on Monday and Tuesday and then finalise their preparations for the semi-final later in the week at Murrayfield.

The good news is that the national stadium will also be available for the final should Glasgow overcome the Bulls. It was originally thought that a concert at the ground by the country singer Zach Bryan on June 14 would rule it out for the showpiece game which is scheduled for June 20. But Scottish Rugby has now pledged to have Murrayfield ready for the final - if required.

At one point it looked as if Glasgow would have to travel to Belfast or even further afield in the event of reaching a ‘home’ final. Now, if they can beat the Bulls, they know they need only travel along the M8.

‘What a privilege’

Smith admitted it was a big incentive. “Yes, of course,” he said. “What a privilege it would be. But the emphasis is on getting across this hurdle [the semi-final].

“It would be fantastic, imagine playing the final in Murrayfield? It would be just unbelievable. But, hopefully, that is the last word this week spoken about it.”

While Smith is understandably reluctant to get ahead of himself, both he and Steyn are hoping the wider Scottish rugby community will come out and support them in the semi against the Bulls. Murrayfield is familiar territory for Steyn and a host of other Scotland internationals in the Glasgow squad and the skipper hopes they can make the most of it.

“Like Franco has said, we're playing in Scotland in front of our people,” said the captain. “It does probably help us a little bit, just the familiarity of what it's like to field a box kick, the feel of the pitch, the width of it.

“And I think we'll be buzzing about the fact that hopefully we'll be able to fill it with loads of Glaswegians, loads of Scottish rugby fans.”