Glasgow Warriors player ratings vs Bulls | 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup

Glasgow Warriors player ratings: Not the best of performances, as the rain, the Bulls and an unimpressive scrum made things more difficult for the Glasgow Warriors, but in the end Franco Smith’s team clinched qualification for the quarter-finals with a well earned 25-21 win.

It was the Warriors’ fourth win over the Bulls since 2022, and although it was decided on the final play of the game, they will face Toulon in a few weeks.

Patrick Schickerling and Stafford McDowall were stupendous for the home side, salvaging them after a shaky opening 40 minutes.

1. Patrick Schickerling – 9
The Bulls came to Scotstoun with a plan to make the scrum a point-scoring platform, and it paid off in the opening exchanges, with the Warriors front-row trio caving under heavy pressure. Despite the scrummaging woes, Schickerling was extraordinary everywhere else, clinching a sensational jackal and a key counter-ruck that prevented the Bulls from scoring, before crossing for the Warriors’ third try.

2. Gregor Hiddleston – 6
A positive performance in the lineout and in his defensive duties, Hiddleston did his best to secure a solid set-piece for the Warriors, although the scrum endured an off-day.

3. Zander Fagerson – 6
A tough day on the job for the experienced Scottish international, as he came under pressure in the scrum against an in-form Gerhard Steenekamp. While Schickerling enjoyed some good moments outside of the set-piece, Fagerson wasn’t so lucky, conceding two knock-ons and missing two tackles. He managed to regain his footing in the second half.

4. Max Williamson – 6.5
Controlled the driving maul well, but didn’t have any chances to disrupt the opposition lineout. Scored the locals’ first try, rushing in support of George Horne before grounding the ball near the posts.

5. Alex Samuel – 5
Tried to step up in the lock pairing, with most of his impact felt around the ruck and in the driving maul. However, Samuel wasn’t as dominant as Williamson, failing to make a real impact with his tackles or carries.

6. Matt Fagerson – 8
How did Fagerson manage to salvage that wonky pass from George Horne to set up his side’s opening try? His sensational Six Nations form carried over to the Investec Champions Cup, with the blindside flanker amassing more than 12 tackles and 10 carries, bossing the opposition forward pack.

7. Rory Darge – 7
Pile-drove several Bulls carriers to the ground and was sensational at making life hard for Embrose Papier, narrowing the Bulls scrum-half’s range of options.

8. Jack Dempsey – 7
A game of mixed feelings for the powerful number eight. While he won the collision battle in most of his carries and scored one of his side’s tries, Dempsey lost control of the ball twice after rushing in when a more conservative approach may have served him better.

9. George Horne – 5
Replaced six minutes before the break, George Horne wasn’t at his best. The scrum-half missed a few passes, looking like a slowed-down version of himself. Even though he did assist with the Warriors’ opening try, Horne struggled to ignite his side’s attack.

10. Dan Lancaster – 6
Not the best of outings for the 24-year-old Scottish-qualified utility back, missing the target on more than a few occasions. He looked far better when linking his side’s attacking game, although this was only evident intermittently.

11. Ollie Smith – 5
In a match hampered by persistent rain, Ollie Smith had to content himself with chasing kicks and shutting down Bulls runners. Didn’t do anything flashy, but did his job when called upon.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7.5
The living embodiment of selflessness. Tuipulotu repeatedly hurled himself into the Bulls defence, searching for a way to gain momentum and keep his side’s qualification hopes alive in the Investec Champions Cup.

13. Stafford McDowall – 9
Gigantic. Enormous. Titanic. Whatever word you can come up with, Stafford McDowall was crucial to his side’s victory, creating several key moments and consistently outthinking the Bulls backline. Made the run that sparked the locals’ first try, beating defenders to anchor the Warriors deep in the Bulls’ 22, and then scored the winning try.

14. Kyle Steyn – 5
Like Ollie Smith, Steyn didn’t have the chance to light up the game, with the rain and the Bulls defence making it difficult for the experienced winger to get involved.

15. Josh McKay – 8
Handled Handré Pollard’s deep kicks with assurance, returning them in kind. This was never going to be a game of flair, with McKay doing what he could to relieve pressure when the Warriors were pinned in their own half. He finished as the match’s top ball-carrier with 120 metres gained and made the run that ultimately allowed the Warriors to celebrate a memorable Champions Cup win.

REPLACEMENTS
Aside from Ben Afshar, Franco Smith was patient with his changes, largely due to the nature of the contest.