Glasgow 33-3 Zebre: We learned three things

Scotstoun Fortress delivers again

In a week where there has been much discussion about Glasgow’s decision to move their December 1872 Cup match against Edinburgh to Hampden, here is another reminder of the power of Scotstoun.

While a temporary trip to the national stadium for the derby makes sense for many reasons, you can understand why some fans are reluctant to lose the home advantage.

Glasgow’s Scotstoun record is outstanding. You have to go back almost three years to find URC’s last regular-season home defeat, a defeat to then champions Leinster.

OK, Zebre haven’t run the toughest tests, but the longer Glasgow puts teams on their home pitch, the more Scotstoun’s aura grows, and that could be invaluable if they secure a home play-off at the end of the season.

Bhatti is fighting for the Scotland 1 jersey

Jamie Bhatti is certainly pushing hard to secure a vacant spot for the Scots in the upcoming autumn Nations series.

Pierre Schoeman has been one of the first names in Gregor Townsend’s team recently, but he has lacked dynamism for some time.

Bhatti plays hard, tackles well and his tackle numbers are consistently good.

He’s also part of a winning culture, and you wonder how important that will be when Townsend meets with his coaches to discuss the 50-50 interviews.

Bhatti has played a key role in Glasgow’s recent success and would relish the chance to play a larger role with the national team in November.

Discipline takes some work

If there is one hole to be found in an otherwise professional performance, it is Glasgow’s discipline.

The Warriors conceded 12 penalties, which isn’t a ridiculous total, but in a game where they had almost total control throughout the match against such a limited opponent, they need to do better.

Amid thrilling wins away to Munster in last season’s semi-final and at Loftus Versfeld against the Bulls in the final, it’s easy to forget the Warriors’ near-fatal penalty count.

Many have argued that the main cause of the discipline problems in Glasgow was some strange decisions by Andrea Piardi, the referee in both matches, but you have to react and adapt to what the referee thinks on the day, and I’m sure Franco Smith will want his players to have tidied up this area ahead of tougher tests in South Africa against the Sharks and Stormers.