RYAN WILSON: Don't rule out Glasgow in URC grand final... this side have already proved they're up for the fight

Not many neutrals will fancy Glasgow Warriors to win the URC grand final this weekend but I don’t consider this a club punching above its weight.

I know this is only Franco Smith’s second season in charge but he’s made such a difference in such a short space of time that the expectation levels have skyrocketed.

Yes, the Bulls will be favourites to lift the trophy, especially seeing they’re on home soil at Loftus Versfeld, but my old club aren’t there just to make up the numbers. They’ll see themselves as equals in this final and, with nothing to fear, I really fancy their chances.

They’ve already shown in the earlier rounds of the playoffs what they are made of, beating a very capable Stormers team at Scotstoun, and then that really controlled and impressive showing away to Munster last weekend. Few tipped them to win that semi-final across in Ireland — I think I was one of the few that did!

The team that I was part of that won the Pro 12 in 2015 was a group of lads who had been together for a long time and it wasn’t filled with superstars. It was a real good feeling among the group and I can sense that about this current team as well.

Franco has moulded them really quickly into a unit where everyone works hard for each other, complemented by some standout performers this season like Josh McKay, who I think has been incredible. So that’s why I don’t think they’re punching above their weight.

This is a group who know they can now go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the world. They believe they are capable of winning trophies, as they should with some of the players at their disposal.

It’s interesting that the referee for the final will be Andrea Piardi, who also took charge of the semi-final last weekend in Limerick. Glasgow seemed to get on the wrong side of the Italian initially as the penalty count soared in the first half and they also lost Richie Gray and Matt Fagerson to yellow cards.

Thankfully, as the game wore on they managed to get back in his good books, both with their sharp defence but also just picking up how Piardi was viewing things and making smart decisions. He’s an experienced referee who also took charge of last year’s grand final, so it could stand them in good stead to know from the first whistle how he’s likely to rule on scrums.

That will be a huge part of the game, I reckon, seeing how the Glasgow pack goes up against the Bulls’. In Zander and Matt Fagerson, they have two players in terrific form. Zander played all 80 minutes of the semi-final and I thought it was one of his best games in a Warriors shirt. He was just so dominant and influential, and he was everywhere on the pitch putting in an absolute shift.

Matt got his yellow card, of course, but I thought he was terrific throughout the rest of the contest. I love how he got right into Peter O’Mahony’s face and didn’t take any nonsense. I was feeling almost like a proud father at that point!

Matt didn’t back down as he squared up to him. I wasn’t far away on the touchline and it was like the baton had been passed on from me to him.

The brothers will be key for the Warriors again in the final and both should be going into the game full of confidence.

You could pick out so many from last weekend but Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan and Kyle Steyn all put in a power of work. Glasgow will need big performances from all of them again.

The noise and atmosphere around Thomond Park last week was incredible but in a way I felt that it gave Glasgow an edge. It really galvanised them and fired them up.

There will be 52,000 Bulls fans present this weekend but I don’t expect, even with those greater numbers, that it will be more hostile than last weekend. And the boys coped with that fine.

I used to love my trips to South Africa as a player but to be here in Pretoria covering the match for Premier Sports is the next best thing. I’m hoping I get a better reception from the Bulls fans than I did from some of the Munster crowd last weekend — I don’t think I was too popular there!

But it’s brilliant to be able to be part of the presenting team covering the final.

I know I’m meant to be neutral but I’d love nothing more than to see the boys beat the Bulls to get the trophy.

It’s been a long wait since the last time the club won something and the celebrations would be quite special if they could end that drought this weekend.

Ryan Wilson is part of the Premier Sports team bringing live coverage of the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final this Saturday from 4pm as Glasgow Warriors take on Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Ryan joins Ross Harries, John Barclay, Stephen Ferris, Tom Shanklin, Thinus Delport, Chris Paterson and Rory Hamilton for an hour of build-up, live commentary and all the post-final reaction live on Premier Sports 1. Who will lift the 2024 URC trophy? Visit www.premiersports.com for more information.

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