Glasgow Warriors vs Bath

Warriors team for the math on Sunday:

15 Stuart Hogg

14 Tommy Seymour
13 Rob Dewey
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Colin Shaw

10 Duncan Weir
9 Chris Cusiter

1 Ryan Grant
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Michael Cusack
4 Richie Gray
5 Alastair Kellock (Captain)
6 Robert Harley
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson

Substitutes

16 Dougie Hall
17 Gordon Reid
18 Ed Kalman
19 Tom Ryder
20 Chris Fusaro
21 Henry Pyrgos
22 Troy Nathan
23 Federico Aramburu

Cusack back in the front row, no place for Beattie, and a resumption of the bosh-bash center-pairing of Morrison and Dewey

No real surprises to be honest.

Perhaps Fusaro being on the bench ahead of Beattie, and Dewey coming in ahead of either Nathan or Dunbar, but otherwise not surprised.

Pleased Hogg has come back, this will be a real test for him. Also a step up for young Weir. This will be a high profile challenge. It was against Bath in the HC than Jackson really put down a marker, good chance for Weir to now do the same.

Confirmation that Beattie is not injured: Beattie to play for Ayr

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Olly Woodburn
13. Dan Hipkiss
12. Matt Banahan
11. Tom Biggs
10. Tom Heathcote
9. Michael Claassens
1. David Flatman
2. Ross Batty
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper (c)
5. Ryan Caldwell
6. Francois Louw
7. Guy Mercer
8. Simon Taylor

Replacements

16. Kane Palma-Newport
17. Charlie Beech
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Dave Attwood
20. Will Spencer
21. Mark McMillan
22. Stephen Donald
23. Sam Vesty

Good to see faith being put in Heathcote at FH, could be a first run out for Donald too. We dont seem to have a reserve hooker though!

Well that is pretty telling. That he doesn't even get into the squad ahead of Fusaro (who lets face it is unlikely to come on for Barclay unless there's an injury) is a clear sign that he's on his way out. Real shame.

Banahan and Hipkiss versus Morrison and Dewey....... a rather physical centre contest that.

Nice to see Mark McMillan featuring for Bath. Underrated player that.

What's happened to Cuthbert? Playing well earlier in the season I thought.

Louw-Taylor-Mercer vs Harley-Wilson-Barclay - that's going to be some test of the young Warriors at the breakdown

Really looking forward to this one - the writing seems to be on the wall for Beattie. How long can we really regard dropping him like this as nothing more than (yet another) kick up the pants? Smells like Lineen has had it with the hissies.

Strong looking Bath side, with an excellent pack although they are coming off the back of a poor result. Is Cuthbert injured? Apologies for my ignorance.

I see Glasgow have also signed David Lemi the Samoan international from Wasps to replace TDH. Not a bad signing at all - very experienced and a big ball carrier.

Best of luck to both sides.

The Lemi I'm thinking of is tiny? Wouldn't describe him as a big ball carrier. Wasn't he at Bristol previously? If it's that guy it's a cracking signing. Excellent finisher, very sharp off the mark.

I'm going to watch a sad amount of rugby this weekend. Packed the wife off to Cornwall with the inlaws. Inspired.

Theres certainly a fair bit of weight being thrown around in the centres!

Cuthbert is ill I think, he did have a bit of a mare against Irish a couple of weeks ago though.

FES, I have managed a similar feat, plenty of sky sports in store this weekend!

funnyExiledScot wrote:The Lemi I'm thinking of is tiny? Wouldn't describe him as a big ball carrier. Wasn't he at Bristol previously? If it's that guy it's a cracking signing. Excellent finisher, very sharp off the mark.

I'm going to watch a sad amount of rugby this weekend. Packed the wife off to Cornwall with the inlaws. Inspired.

fES, that's the one - small of stature, but typical Islander massive hits - GC, probably worth its own thread?

Ok - he's an excellent signing in which case, just what Glasgow needed. A sharp attacking winger with the ability to score tries from nothing.

With Seymour and Hogg, that has the makings of an excellent back three.

Not that they'll see much of the ball with Morrison and Dewey in the middle!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:The Lemi I'm thinking of is tiny? Wouldn't describe him as a big ball carrier. Wasn't he at Bristol previously? If it's that guy it's a cracking signing. Excellent finisher, very sharp off the mark.

I'm going to watch a sad amount of rugby this weekend. Packed the wife off to Cornwall with the inlaws. Inspired.

fES, that's the one - small of stature, but typical Islander massive hits - GC, probably worth its own thread?

Done.

Yes, excellent signing. Smart terms too - he's only signed until the end of the season when we see where we are with DTH.

And when I said "big" ball carrier, I meant that he was a tough biff merchant.

Rather than someone who might often borrow Richie Gray's clothes.

Yes, he's a stocky little customer. Just watched some clips on You Tube. Tidy player and not bad footballing skills either.

On paper, Bath look stronger. But can't rule out Glasgow at home, they've had some decent results there over the years.
From a Bath perspective, glad to see Batty, Mercer, Heathcote, Woodburn. Batty particularly has been under-utilised, excellent around the park, and seems to score tries for fun during pre-seasons.
Can't wait to see Donald in the Blue, Black, and White (although would prefer not the dodgy european strip )

bathmad, don't know much about Ollie Woodburn or Tom Heathcote - what should we expect?

Ollie Woodburn is tall, quick, and strong. Youngster, but knows his way to the line, and has good offloading skills, seems to work well with Bendy. Heathcote seems unflappable (not bad from a 19yo), good with ball in hand, and barely misses with kicks, both from hand and ground. Stands flat enough to cause problems to defenders with some biffers outside him.

i have a feeling glasgow might nick this. they've been in some decent form lately. got a great half back pairing in cus and weir.

Hmmm, good news for Glasgow (given my prediction form this season) is that I think Bath will win, but I think there's a losing bonus point to be had here for Glasgow.

But that's not sufficient, fES - in the HC, you need to be looking at winning all your home fixtures and picking up as many BPs as you can away - sadly, probably not this year for the Warriors again

Cuthbert - Maybe injured, but in awful form anyways. Had two very bad outings in a row recently and not anywhere near the starting side and most fans agree. Going to have to have a hell of a season to get a new contract I reckon.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:But that's not sufficient, fES - in the HC, you need to be looking at winning all your home fixtures and picking up as many BPs as you can away - sadly, probably not this year for the Warriors again

Yeh, I know. I just don't see Glasgow beating that Bath side.

Shame to hear that about Cuthbert, thought he started the season brightly. There'll certainly be a home for him up in Scotland were he to want to make the switch north.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Shame to hear that about Cuthbert, thought he started the season brightly. There'll certainly be a home for him up in Scotland were he to want to make the switch north.

Where tho? Maybe with the new 3rd region? Glasgow have Hogg and Horne, Edinburgh have Thompson and Brown (not to mention Mossy)

Glasgow would be the best destination for him. Hogg is promising but still very green. To quote Gordon Gecko "he hasn't been around the block yet". Not a massive fan of Horne, although Murchie apparently played well last weekend.

Cuthbert can play full back or wing. Think he'd be a useful recruit there. We don't know if Lemi will stay, and Shaw is nothing more than solid.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Glasgow would be the best destination for him. Hogg is promising but still very green. To quote Gordon Gecko "he hasn't been around the block yet". Not a massive fan of Horne, although Murchie apparently played well last weekend.

Cuthbert can play full back or wing. Think he'd be a useful recruit there. We don't know if Lemi will stay, and Shaw is nothing more than solid.

fES, haven't seen anything from Cuthbert, 2 or 3 outings last season aside, to suggest that your description doesn't also apply to him?

I think the best think for Cuthbert would be to go north in some ways. Unless he has a belting second half of the season he is unlikely to get a new contract but as said above, that seems unlikely as at his best he has been more of a solid option than anything else.

Hmmm, I had thought Cuthbert had a MOTM performance at Bath at the start of the season, but looking on the Bath website my memory might be failing me.

Looks a good strike runner to me, if a little ungainly. He was urine poor in the pre-WC warm-up for Scotland though. Rabbit in the headlights like a lanky version of Craig Joiner.

I can be persuaded on Cuthbert, haven't seen enough of him to form a strong view.

Im not sure what cuthbert brings to the table that we are in need of. We should be looking at getting faster players, not another massive back three. If Jim Thompson can regain form, then there will be no need for cuthbert.

To be honest, I have always plopped Cuthbert into the same category as Hugo Southwell.

Solid, decent boot, big lump, not especially great hands, step or pace.

At least with Rory or Thompson there is always a genuine chance of them breaking the line and Thompson in particular has that fluid quality to his running that means quality. I have long imagined a back three of Jones, Visser and Thompson with Weir or Laidlaw kicking.

I just need to watch Beale, Foden or Dagg for three minutes before I become teary/irate that we never seem to play a 15 who can move his @rse.

Cuthbert can come to Glasgow but only for squad player wages.

The Scotsman are fairly talking him up today Jack

Have to say I have no idea why - having seen him play he looks like a 2nd row playing at full back - slow, lumbering and not the best of skills.

I'd take JT for Scotland any day!

Can PM links if anyone requires

Hey RDW, if you wouldn't mind, could you PM me a link?

Cheers mate

Many thanks RDW

Only found out about that site yesterday - looks like it is going to be good for regular viewing over the season!

Most others ones are a complete lottery whether you can get a link or not.

Working link:

Spoiler:

Bath coming fowl of the ref, Weir kicks Glasgow into the lead 9-6

Fairly uneventful first half - I'm surprised the ref was happy with the Glasgow hooker doing a river dance on top of the Bath lock there, thought you couldn't do that any more!

Bath looking the more threatening by far but Glasgow set piece doing well.

That was some helping of shoe pie dished out to Hooper alright, RDW - don't think he'll be lying on the wrong side again!

True, just thought you couldn't do that any more. That's gonna sting when he gets into the shower!

Bath look like they think this is going to be an easy day at the office,
Glasgow are no walk over at home and with Edinburgh getting a win they will want one to against English opposition.

If Bath don't score a try into the third quarter i can see the frustration getting the better of them and the wheels falling off the wagon.

Regards the old using someone's back as a treadmill! i love it,yes it is not allowed any more but they should bring that back,
they would instantly sort out the cheating at the ruck area if you could use your boot, teams like England and Ireland would really struggle if the opposition got quick clean ball because they bring that negative play at the break down due to lack of fitness and skill.

Yer right, don't think you can, would have expected penalty to be reversed, lucky lad

I take full credit for providng people with links. RDW you should be sorted for evermore now. I just got back in from a match there, what's the score?

viewtothegym wrote:Bath look like they think this is going to be an easy day at the office,
Glasgow are no walk over at home and with Edinburgh getting a win they will want one to against English opposition.

If Bath don't score a try into the third quarter i can see the frustration getting the better of them and the wheels falling off the wagon.

Regards the old using someone's back as a treadmill! i love it,yes it is not allowed any more but they should bring that back,
they would instantly sort out the cheating at the ruck area if you could use your boot, teams like England and Ireland would really struggle if the opposition got quick clean ball because they bring that negative play at the break down due to lack of fitness and skill.

You really do talk some ....

Yeah thanks Thomond - pretty happy to have it!

9-6 to the Weedge - you've not missed much!

Thomond wrote:I take full credit for providng people with links. RDW you should be sorted for evermore now. I just got back in from a match there, what's the score?

T, could you send me them too? I can add them to my selection! Cheers

You have mail. A complete dossier I will try and send out for the HC games.

Good clearance from Heathcote, good head on young shoulders

This match is awful to be fair.