Franco Smith will experience the Investec Champions Cup last 16 for the second time with the Glasgow Warriors after helping them beat Racing 92 in Scotland on Friday.
Smith led Glasgow to the EPCR Challenge Cup final in his first season before delivering the Vodacom URC title in his second, and now remains on course for more silverware after a convincing 29-19 win at Scotstoun Stadium.
South Africans Lee-Marvin Mazibuko and Tristan Tedder crossed the whitewash for Racing but Glasgow romped to a five-try victory, condemning the French strugglers to a fifth successive match without a win.
The result took Glasgow to the top of Pool 4 with 12 points from three games and guaranteed a place in the knockout stage.
Racing are fifth in the six-team section on four points with just one game to play. Only the top four from each of the four groups will make the last 16.
Racing fielded a reshuffled team which was missing scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec, loose forward Cameron Woki as well as star centre Gael Fickou.
However, the Scots were rarely troubled, running in four tries to secure the bonus point before the interval when they led 22-7.
Rory Darge added a fifth in the second period before Matt Fagerson’s yellow card allowed Racing to add two late consolation tries.
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Glasgow took an early lead after Josh McKay’s break carried them beyond the Racing backline with the ball going via Tom Jordan to George Horne who dived over.
The scrumhalf departed for a head injury assessment shortly afterwards – he failed it and did not return – but the Warriors continued to attack and soon claimed a second try.
Horne’s replacement, Jamie Dobie, scored after Fagerson had made a powerful line break to burst clear of the Racing defence before feeding Dobie for a simple score.
Glasgow soon added a third try through Argentine winger Sebastian Cancelliere. Racing finally opened their account with a try late in the opening period from Vinaya Habosi.
Glasgow, though, ended the half on top to claim their fourth score and the bonus point courtesy of Scotland skipper Sione Tuipulotu.
Darge added a fifth try after the break before Fagerson was shown a yellow card for slapping the ball away and the visitors took advantage to score twice late on through Mazibuko and Tedder.
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Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
