Glasgow head coach Franco Smith ready for family showdown

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith is braced for the “strange” prospect of trying to put a dampener on his own son’s United Rugby Championship debut.

Italian-born South African fly-half Jean Smith, 22, has been named among the Sharks replacements for Friday’s league curtain-raiser at Scotstoun.

Warriors boss Smith said he was “really excited” about what promises to be a special night for his family, but he admitted “it’s always a little bit strange, obviously”.

“I think my wife will suffer more than I do, really, so it’s a little bit part of the job, I suppose,” he said on Thursday.

“Look, it’s the second time, Franco Junior was with Zebre, so we’ve had our things against each other already.

“This is a little bit different. You can see Jean’s a little bit shy to talk to me during the week. He doesn’t really want to make too much contact to avoid letting a cat out of the bag, I suppose, so he’s very coy about the way he approached this week.

“I’ve seen him on Tuesday night but it was all about what’s happening at home and so on. I’m excited for him. I’m glad he comes off the bench and hopefully gets some time to find his feet and that he will progress from here.

“Obviously one wants the best for him and hopefully he’ll learn something that he can take forward in his career tomorrow night.”

Smith has named two debutants in his starting XV in the shape of new stand-off Dan Lancaster and centre Kerr Yule, a 20-year-old academy graduate.

Jack Dempsey makes his first competitive appearance since getting injured on Six Nations duty with Scotland in March but national team captain Sione Tuipulotu is not in the squad after his summer exertions with the British and Irish Lions.

“Sione’s settled in nicely, he’s trained now for 10 days fully with the team, he’s energised,” Smith reported.

“He obviously had a full five-week break which was important for him to resettle, but he looks physically in good shape and he’s now, from my perspective, on my eye, getting back to being the influential player that he can be, so everything at the right time I suppose.”

It emerged earlier this week that Lions and Scotland centre Huw Jones is set to be out until the new year after undergoing Achilles surgery.

“It’s a pity,” said Smith reflecting on the latest injury setback to befall one of his key players. “Between him, Sione, Zander (Fagerson) and Scott (Cummings), we didn’t have them playing much in the last six months for us, so obviously it’s a bit of a disappointment.

“But we might have him back for the most important part of the year, so everything has a positive spin on it. I believe everything happens for a reason, so hopefully when we need him most he’ll be fine.”