Champions Cup: Sale 21-26 Glasgow - Warriors earn bonus-point win on opening night

Glasgow Warriors secure bonus-point win over Sale Sharks in Champions Cup opener. The Scottish side bounced back from a slow start to come from behind and claim a 26-21 victory at Sale's home ground, the Memorial Stadium.

Sale set the tone early on, scoring two tries within the first 20 minutes through Ernst van Rhyn and Ollie Davies, with the latter's debut try coming after just five minutes. Glasgow responded well to the hosts' onslaught, hitting back with a pair of tries before halftime courtesy of Gregor Hiddleston and Rory Darge.

The Scottish side increased the pressure in the second half, with Kyle Steyn scoring on 54 minutes to give Glasgow their first lead of the game. Stafford McDowall sealed the bonus point for the visitors with his 100th appearance, as Sale trailed by 15 points with just over an hour remaining.

A late try from Marius Louw gave Sale some hope, but they were unable to capitalize on a line-out opportunity that would have given them a last-ditch chance. The final score was 26-21 in favor of Glasgow, who secured a significant early blow to Sale's Champions Cup hopes.

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith praised his side's resilience, saying: "It doesn't get much tougher than that – we've earned the right to be happy with our performance." The Warriors will look to build on this victory when they host Toulouse next week, while Sale travel to Clermont for their own European challenge.

omg, what a game Glasgow totally came from behind and stole it from Sale! I mean, two tries in the first 20 minutes is crazy Sale set the tone but Glasgow kept pushing back and finally got that lead on 54 minutes. Kyle Steyn's try was so clutch And to be honest, I kinda love seeing underdog teams like Sale get thrashed by bigger rivals Franco Smith said it doesn't get much tougher than this? yeah tell us more Toulouse better watch out next week lol

omg i had a similar feeling when glasgow started that match they were so down but then came back super strong and i'm literally hyped for them now!!! sale played well too tho, those tries from ernst van rhyn and ollie davies were sick but in the end glasgow's defense held strong and they deserved that win i mean Franco Smith is a genius coach btw can't wait to see what happens next week against toulouse!!!

omg what a comeback by Glasgow Warriors!!! they totally deserved that win after coming from behind, it was such a nail-biter! I mean, 2 tries down and still managing to win? props to Franco Smith's team for showing so much heart and now that bonus point secures them some major points in the Champions Cup can't wait to see how they do next week against Toulouse

omg u guys!!!! Glasgow Warriors is literally the best!! I'm beyond hyped about that 2 pt win over Sale Sharks!!! Franco Smith is a genius coach he knows how to get the most out of his team and they played so well as a unit. Gregor Hiddleston and Rory Darge are like my favorite players ever Kyle Steyn's try on 54 minutes was like, the game changer I'm so glad Stafford McDowall got that 100th appearance win it's like, a huge deal for him! And sorry Sale Sharks, but you gotta step up your game if u wanna compete with Glasgow they're gonna crush Toulouse next week and I'm so here for it

Man... 26-21? That's a crazy score! I'm loving it though . Glasgow totally came from behind and showed some serious grit. I mean, that second half was all them, they just kept piling on the pressure. And Kyle Steyn scoring his try at 54 minutes? Game-changer . You gotta respect Stafford McDowall for getting his 100th cap like that too - he's a total legend . Sale gave it their all, but couldn't quite catch up in the end. Guess you can say Glasgow got the better of Sale today . Franco Smith is spot on though, his team definitely deserved to be happy with that performance .

Yooo, what a game!!! Glasgow's come from behind win is defo one of the craziest games I've seen in ages! I'm hyped for them, but also a bit worried they might get complacent now that they're on a high Sale gave it their all, and I gotta respect that. Marius Louw's try was a total game-changer, though – what a finish! But hey, Glasgow earned the W, so who cares about the details? Franco Smith said it best: "It doesn't get much tougher than that" Guess that's true for teams like Sale and Glasgow. On to Toulouse next week, let's see how they handle the pressure

The Scottish side is really showing some grit and determination in this Champions Cup opener . I mean, coming from behind like that takes a lot of heart and teamwork. The tries by Hiddleston and Darge were huge turning points in the game, really gave Glasgow the momentum they needed to take control.

And Kyle Steyn's score at 54 minutes was pure gold - it shows he's got game-changing moments in him! Stafford McDowall's 100th appearance for Glasgow is also a nice milestone, I'm sure that was a special moment for him.

Sale couldn't quite capitalize on their opportunities when it mattered most, which is what you expect from teams playing against top-level opponents like Glasgow. The Memorial Stadium must've been rocking after that late Marius Louw try though!

Franco Smith's comments about his side's resilience are spot on too - a win like this gives them the confidence boost they need going forward. The Champions Cup is definitely heating up, and I'm loving every minute of it!

️ The Glasgow Warriors' opening Champions Cup win was a testament to their resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity . A slow start from the Scottish side seemed to set the tone for a potentially disastrous outing, but they skillfully weathered the storm to mount a stirring comeback . Ernst van Rhyn and Ollie Davies were Sale's most prominent contributors early on, but Glasgow's response was characteristically swift and decisive, with Gregor Hiddleston and Rory Darge leading the charge . As the game intensified in the second half, Kyle Steyn's try notched up a crucial six points, sending the visitors ahead for the first time . Stafford McDowall's 100th appearance was a poignant moment of individual brilliance, securing the bonus point and ultimately sealing Sale's fate .

I'm loving the drama at the Memorial Stadium Glasgow came from behind and took it all the way! Their resilience is totally admirable Franco Smith's squad really showed some heart, especially with that bonus point win And can we talk about Stafford McDowall's 100th appearance? What an achievement for him The Warriors' next match against Toulouse had me hyped Now, I'm curious to see how Sale will bounce back from this loss... maybe they just need a little shake-up to get their Champions Cup hopes back on track

Just watched this epic rugby match between Glasgow and Sale Sharks . I gotta say, the comeback by Glasgow was incredible! They were down but not out, and it's awesome to see them fighting back like that. The Scottish side showed some real grit and determination, especially in the second half when they took control of the game .

I'm loving Franco Smith's post-match comments too - he seems like a really down-to-earth coach who knows how to keep his team motivated . And can we talk about Stafford McDowall for a sec? 100 appearances and still going strong ! He's an inspiration to the whole squad, and I'm sure they're all super proud of him.

Now that Glasgow has gotten off to a flying start in the Champions Cup, I'm excited to see how they build on this momentum next week against Toulouse . It'll be tough, but I think they've got what it takes to make some noise in Europe!

That Glasgow Warriors game was CRAZY ! I mean, Sale came out strong, but Glasgow bounced back so nicely. It's not easy playing away from home, especially in front of a tough crowd like that at the Memorial Stadium . But our boys showed some serious grit and determination to come from behind. I'm loving the underdog story here, it's so inspiring! Franco Smith's comment about earning the right to be happy with their performance sums it up perfectly - they absolutely deserved that win . Now, let's see how they can carry this momentum into their next game against Toulouse ...

Ugh, these rugby teams are always so intense ! I mean, 21 points in the end, who's even keeping track? anyway, I think Glasgow played a solid game, all that bouncing back from a slow start is some serious skill . And nice job to Franco Smith for praising his team - I guess it's cool when coaches are supportive . The Champions Cup is heating up, can't wait to see more of these matches! ️

OMG Glasgow Warriors totally deserved that win! They were down and out early on but came back so strong ️ I love how Kyle Steyn scored on his 54th minute and Stafford McDowall got his 100th appearance with a try That's such an achievement for the guy! And Franco Smith is a genius coach, he must be so proud of his team The Warriors are definitely going to build on this win and take on Toulouse next week with confidence

Just saw that Glasgow Warriors totally smashed it in their Champions Cup opener against Sale Sharks ! I mean, those two tries from Sale at the start were crazy, but Glasgow dug deep and came back so strong . Kyle Steyn's try on 54 minutes was a real game-changer, and Stafford McDowall celebrating his 100th appearance with that bonus point try was amazing . I've got to say, I'm loving this team's spirit! They seem like they're really getting into the Champions Cup vibe now . Can't wait to see how they do against Toulouse next week

Man, what a game! I'm loving the Scottish side's determination, it's like they knew they had a tough road ahead of them... Still can't believe Glasgow went down by 2 tries in the first half, I mean, Sale set the tone alright! But you know how this story goes – come from behind and give yourself a little kick in the pants. And then Kyle Steyn pops up at 54 minutes to level it out, what a moment! Had the hairs on my neck standing up when Stafford McDowall sealed that bonus point, 100th appearance and all... he's like the real deal now . But Sale didn't give up, they kept going till the end... I guess you could say Sale went down swinging, even if it was just a little