WITH a fabulous display of running rugby on an emotional night, Glasgow went to the top of the Guinness Pro12 table, scoring 10 tries to two as they booked their place in the play-offs and gave themselves a huge psychological advantage ahead of a crucial final game of the regular season in Ireland next weekend against Connacht.

The full house at Scotstoun had to be patient as Zebre proved that, as always, they can start dangerously, though the loss of Gonzalo Garcia to injury after 14 minutes seemed to discomfit them.

For within a minute, Leone Nakarawa showed why he is going to be hugely missed by Warriors next season, as he high-stepped and shimmied his powerful way to the line for the first try, converted by Duncan Weir, who is also shortly to depart.

To the surprise of seemingly everyone but themselves, Zebre attacked from the restart, and though Grayson Hart and Taqele Naiyaravoro managed to stop Kayle van Zyl on the line the first time, the South African barged over in the corner, with Carlo Canna missing the difficult conversion. Glasgow’s enterprising and up-tempo play soon gained its reward, however, backs and forwards combining to send Adam Ashe bullocking over for the second try converted by Weir. The third Glasgow try was a beauty of a pre-planned move behind a scrum, Hart feinting one way before reversing the pass to full-back Glenn Bryce – another leaving at summer – who side-stepped through the cover and blasted away to score in the corner, Weir again converting.

The bonus-point try came after only 33 minutes, Naiyaravoro collecting a Zebre fumble, knocking over a defender and sprinting to the line, with Weir again converting.

Glasgow’s rugby was now high-octane champagne stuff, and, with the forwards rampant, Jerry Yanuyanutawa broke off a typical Nakarawa offload to break deep into the Zebre half before the backs arrived and Bryce sprinted away to score. Weir made it five from five in the half.

Zebre were not lying down, Canna’s long pass instrumental in setting up Tommaso Boni for an unconverted try on the wing that made it 35-10 at the end of a scintillating half.

The defending champions came out for the second half to pressurise the Italians and after Yanuyanutawa’s break put the Warriors into the Zebre 22, a defensive error allowed Nakarawa to pick up the ball one-handed and amble over for try number six, converted by Weir.

Incredibly, the score came through at that point that Treviso had beaten Connacht 22-21, and although Glasgow will still need to beat them next week to be sure of a home semi-final, the fact that the Italians minnows beat the Irish side shows what can be done. Back at Scotstoun, Sean Lamont’s 60-yard kick and chase saw him tackle Kayle van Zyl into touch, bringing the crowd to their feet, and though Zebre relieved the pressure, Warriors romped upfield again and replacement scum-half Ali Price fed Nakarawa for his hat-trick, Weir converting yet again.

It was exhibition play now. A five-metre scrum ended with Nakarawa feeding Greg Peterson for a close-range touchdown, Weir making it eight out of eight. It was the try scorer’s last action, but no sooner was he off than Price sprinted the length of the field to score, Weir converting for a 63-10 scoreline.

In a lovely touch after a stunning move, Mark Bennett ran under the posts and then handed the ball to Duncan Weir for his try which, of course, he converted for a perfect 10 out of 10. Weir left the field, applauded to the rafters. Nakarawa when he departed shortly afterwards, was acclaimed man of the match.

The chances are that some of those who are leaving Glasgow this summer might not get another opportunity to show their paces at Scotstoun again, so last night they showed why they will be missed, and Zebre were the hapless victims of a landslide of great rugby and high emotion.