Scottie Scheffler example cited in Glasgow Warriors' Euro quest against opponents rocked by departure

The Warriors head coach used a golf analogy to explain away the 1872 Cup second leg setback, likening the loss at Murrayfield to a wayward drive by Scottie Scheffler. The world No 1 doesn’t make too many missteps and neither do Smith’s Glasgow side who are looking to follow up their United Rugby Championship success of last season by going all the way in Europe.

A win against Racing would secure their place in the Champions Cup knockout stages with a game to spare and Smith has “100 per cent belief” that he will see a response from his players and that the 10-7 loss to Edinburgh after Christmas was “an outlier”.

“These guys have always produced good performances,” said the coach. “Maybe we all are a bit spoiled by the fact that they rock up to perform every week. If you put them in an international jersey, they perform. If you put them in a Glasgow jersey, they perform. If we travel to South Africa, they perform.

“So, you know, it's a pity that we didn't get the result. I think the outlook against Edinburgh, if we won 7-3, everybody would have looked at this completely differently. So, no, I don't have any doubt. I've got 100 per cent trust and belief in this squad and the people that are here.

“We all want to win every day. But even the best in the world, like Scottie Scheffler, will sometimes pull a driver into the bush at some stage during a round. It happens. They're human after all and it's expected. But again, you know, what makes it special is how we're going to respond. They've always come to work with smiles on their faces. They always work hard when they're here. And hopefully that was an outlier result.”

Smith’s message is that nothing is broken, as evidenced by the fact that Glasgow sit second in both the URC and the Champions Cup at the halfway point of both competitions.

It’s the latter tournament which takes centre stage over the next two weeks, with Glasgow travelling to London to take on Harlequins after the Racing game. The top four from each of the four six-team groups in the Champions Cup will qualify for the last 16 so the Warriors are handily placed to progress but the higher they finish the more favourable their draw will be.

Smith is looking to finish the pool phase with back-to-back wins but is also alive to the bigger picture. He wants to hand over his players to Scotland for the Six Nations in the best possible shape and ensure those left behind are ready to step up in their absence. In the meantime, wins on Friday and next weekend would set them up nicely for a proper tilt at the Champions Cup when the knockout stage gets underway in April.

“We would still like to go to Harlequins to win as well,” he said. “We would like to not lose one game, not one scrum, not one lineout. So, our mission is to stay practical and not get carried away now by permutations.”

Racing arrive in Scotland in poor fettle. The three-time Champions Cup finalists have not won domestic league game in over two months and are a lowly ninth in the Top 14. Their European form has been better and, like Glasgow, they have won one and lost one so far in Pool 4. Stuart Lancaster’s side defeated Harlequins 23-12 in Paris in their opener before going down 29-7 to Sale in round two.

Their preparations this week have been overshadowed by the sudden departure of Camille Chat. The 33-times capped France international hooker reportedly turned up for training worse for wear last month after a Christmas night out. Chat denies the charge but has left the club by mutual consent, bringing to an end his 12-year association with Racing. Feleti Kaitu'u, the Australia international, will play at hooker against Glasgow, with former Warriors prop Lucio Sordoni alongside him in the front row. The game comes too soon for Owen Farrell who is recovering from a groin operation and Antoine Gibert will wear 10.

Despite Racing’s travails, Smith has warned of the visitors’ pedigree. “They still have the same players and the same experience in a group that's done really well,” he said. “A lot of them have been French internationals. They've been in a winning environment for a long time. Stuart Lancaster has been in a winning environment for a very long time. They know, obviously, what needs to be done and we're very aware of it.”

He is confident Scotstoun will be playable after groundstaff took preemptive action by covering the pitch last week but Murrayfield could be an option if the artificial surface is frozen. The Glasgow coach has resisted making too many changes following the loss to Edinburgh. In the pack, Rory Sutherland will start at loosehead prop instead of Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews has been selected at hooker in place of Gregor Hiddleston and Rory Darge comes into the back row for Ally Miller. Bhatti, Matthews and Miller are named among the replacements.

In the backs, George Horne returns as starting scrum-half as Jamie Dobie reverts to the bench. Josh McKay has recovered from injury and is selected at full-back ahead of Kyle Rowe who drops out the squad.

It feels like the perfect game for Glasgow to shake off any post-Christmas cobwebs and further enhance their European credentials.

Glasgow Warriors: 15. Josh McKay; 14. Seb Cancelliere, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Kyle Steyn (c); 10. Tom Jordan, 9. George Horne; 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Johnny Matthews, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Gregor Brown, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Mann. Replacements: 16. Gregor Hiddleston, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Alex Samuel, 20. Ally Miller, 21. Euan Ferrie, 22. Jamie Dobie, 23. Duncan Weir.

Racing 92: 15. Max Spring; 14. Vinaya Habosi, 13. Tristan Tedder, 12. Henry Chavancy, 11. Henry Arundell; 10. Antoine Gibert, 9. Clovis le Bail; 1. Lino Julien, 2. Feleti Kaitu'u, 3. Lucio Sordoni, 4. Boris Palu, 5. Junior Kpoku, 6. Noa Zinzen, 7. Ibrahim Diallo (c), 8. Maxime Baudonne. Replacements: 16. Diego Escobar, 17. Eddy Ben Arous, 18. Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Hacjivah Dayimani, 21. Kleo Labarbe, 22. Dan Lancaster, 23. Dylan Idrissi.

Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng).