RUGBY UNION
Franco Smith: I don’t regret putting Richie Gray on the bench
Glasgow Warriors head coach defends team selection after 43-19 defeat by Toulon in Challenge Cup final
Smith was adamant that he had picked the right team, even though Glasgow Warriors were beaten 43-19 by Toulon in the Challenge Cup final
BRIAN LAWLESS/PA
Franco Smith bit back at suggestions he had erred in not selecting Richie Gray to start as the Glasgow lineout fell apart in their Challenge Cup final defeat by Toulon in Dublin.
Scotland’s first-choice lineout forward was left on the bench until the 66th minute of a 43-19 loss at the Aviva Stadium, with two of the six French tries coming from overthrown Warriors lineouts.
Fraser Brown, the veteran hooker preferred to George Turner, had a disastrous game while Johnny Matthews, his second-half replacement, also made a major error from which Charles Ollivon thought he had scored, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Asked if he regretted not starting Gray, Smith replied indignantly. “Everyone’s got an opinion on that. I could
