URC title triumph should be a launchpad for Glasgow Warriors ... AND for Scotland!

Shortly after the final whistle had blown, the party was in full swing for Glasgow Warriors. The champagne corks popped to a distinctly Scottish soundtrack in Pretoria as The Proclaimers boomed out on the tannoy at Loftus Versfeld.

Glasgow weren’t 500 miles from home, but 8,500. Halfway around the other side of the world, to borrow another line from the Proclaimers, they were King of the Road in this season’s United Rugby Championship.

For there can be no doubt that Glasgow have done this the hard way. Road Warriors who won away at Munster in the semi-finals before defying the odds to beat the Bulls 21-16 in South Africa in the Grand Final on Saturday night.

In doing so, they claimed not only the greatest victory in their history, but *the* single greatest victory in the history of Scottish club rugby. Period.

Trailing 13-0 until the final play of the first half, Franco Smith’s men were dominant in the second half, just as they had been against Munster last week.

It was a champion performance from a champion team. At great altitude on the Highveld, they raised the bar not only for themselves, but for all of Scottish rugby.

And that’s the prism through which this result will be viewed. In the bigger picture, this result *has* to be a platform for the national team.

Asked what impact this could have on Scotland moving forward, Glasgow skipper Kyle Steyn said: ‘I think it can be huge.

‘Looking at it from a Glasgow perspective, Franco talks about that hard edge and I think we have been searching for as a group, particularly over the last 12 months.

‘There is just something about it... you can’t really get it until you’ve done it.

‘I think the belief that particularly our forwards have shown up front to give us that hard edge over the last weeks will give us a lot of belief going forward.’

That should be music to the ears of Gregor Townsend and every Scotland supporter in the land, especially given some of the noises coming out of the camp during this year’s Six Nations.

Throughout the championship, several Scotland players spoke about and insisted that there was no mental fragility in the camp, despite some ropey results and performances.

On the basis of what Glasgow have shown over these past few weeks, it would be hard to argue. Teams who are mentally weak don’t go to Munster and win.

They don’t make a mad dash to South Africa at short notice and come back from a 13-point deficit, against an opponent who were strong favourites, and at altitude levels which sap the energy and drain the mind.

Steyn was one of several Scotland players in the Glasgow team. Matt Fagerson was named man of the match, whilst brother Zander is in the form of his life and might just be the best tighthead in Europe right now.

Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Scott Cummings, George Turner, Richie Gray, George Horne, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu; this was a victory for Scotland as much as it was Glasgow Warriors.

The tries came from Cummings, Turner and Jones and, although they had to survive a nervy finale, Glasgow were worthy winners in the end.

Any failure of the national team moving forward will be through a fault of coaching and preparation, not mentality.

These players have proven themselves to be winners - and head coach Franco Smith believes this is only the start.

‘It will be hard to beat this feeling,’ said Smith, a former Bulls player who joined Glasgow two years ago and has overseen a stunning transformation.

‘To come here in front of 50,000 supporters and win the way we did, it’s a special accolade to the men.

‘We’ve grown leaps and bounds, but again, this sensation and what we’ve achieved tonight will be an important ingredient going forward.

‘We had a saying during the season that we don’t have to lose to learn and they’ve embraced that mentality and they’re pushing their limits, the parameters of what is expected at this level.

‘Obviously I’m really proud of the way they went about their business and the way they stuck to a plan. I honestly think this is just a start and hopefully we can keep on progressing.’

Smith joked afterwards that he and the players would enjoy a ‘wee dram and a cigar’ to toast their success as URC champions. God knows, they have earned it.

Glasgow are a club transformed and reborn under Smith. Not even from two years ago when he took charge, but even just from 12 months ago.

In their Challenge Cup Final against Toulon last season, Glasgow suffered stage fright as they were thumped 43-19.

The difference in this team from then till now is incredible. Under Smith, Glasgow have matured into a formidable outfit. They are a proper team with a hard edge and a dogged attitude.

They don’t have the outright depth or budget compared to many of their rivals in the URC, but they are the hardest-hitting middleweight in the business under Smith.

A team who can punch well above its weight, and one which knows how to stay in a fight; they are the epitome of what a good Scottish team *should* be.

Smith has elevated this team to new heights since he took charge two years ago and is now a Scotland coach in waiting.

It was that Pro12 victory back in 2015 that propelled Gregor Townsend into the frame for the Scotland role. Plainly, it should be no different with Smith.

By the time next season rolls around, Glasgow will also be throwing Adam Hastings into the mix when he arrives from Gloucester.

The addition of a quality fly-half is only going to improve them further as they look go defend their title and make an impact in the Champions Cup.

But, for now, they should enjoy this success. In the end, it was a victory for the ages. A seismic result for all of Scottish rugby.

Whatever faults the national team may have, the lack of a ruthless winning mentality is not among them. Glasgow have proven that beyond all doubt.