Franco Smith demands brave Glasgow display after dire start to season

Franco Smith has challenged his players to show bravery when they host Cardiff as they bid to bounce back from a poor start to the season.

Smith suffered a 33-11 defeat in his first match in charge of Warriors, in the opening weekend of the BKT United Rugby Championship season.

Warriors have now lost six consecutive competitive games and conceded 233 points in the process.

All of those matches have been on the road and Smith is banking on home comforts giving his players a lift.

And the South African feels the opening defeat in Italy at least furnished him with more information on the coaching priorities needed ahead of Friday’s Scotstoun clash.

Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “It’s been almost six months since the squad have played in front of their home crowd and everyone has been fighting hard to earn the chance to run out at Scotstoun on Friday night.

“Last weekend’s game was not how we wanted to start our season. However, it has given us valuable insight into what our players have taken away from pre-season and our new game plan.

“We have challenged the players to be brave this Friday, and begin writing our own story going forward.”

Smith has made four changes. Zander Fagerson and Fraser Brown come into the front row and Scott Cummings is recalled behind him while Rory Darge starts at openside.

South African second-row forward JP du Preez could make his debut off the bench while Argentinian fly-half Domingo Miotti joins him on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.