'South Africa trip can help Glasgow get over Champions Cup exit'

Glasgow coach Roddy Grant believes that travelling to South Africa together can be the best way for the team to put their Champions League disappointment behind them.

A painful home defeat to Toulon on Saturday ended hopes of success in one competition, but the United Rugby Championship leaders are now turning their attention to triumph in another.

The team is heading to Johannesburg on Tuesday ahead of a clash with the Lions on Saturday and a top-of-the-table showdown with the Stormers the following weekend.

Grant says spending a good deal of time together after the Six Nations and some big matches can be the right boost at the right time.

"It's really exciting," he said. "It's a different country, so that's refreshing. We're all together for two weeks now.

"I know the Scotland guys have been back for a little bit (after the Six Nations), but some of the guys came back injured and haven't been around, so it's a really good chance for the collective to get over a disappointment together.

"We've got to get over it very quickly ahead of the weekend but it's a great chance of being together at this stage of the season where you really want to get tight and really focus on the end point of the season, so that's a real benefit.

"When you're playing a long season, anything new is refreshing. So it's a different country, it's a slightly different way of playing, big physical challenge, exciting rugby that the Lions and the Stormers are playing.

"There's a lot to be excited about that's different to the norm."