Glasgow Warriors Vs Zebre Rugby Friday 28th September k/o 7.35

On the Warriors website we have confirmation that Matawalu, Strauss and Fainga'anuku are all to make their debuts... So we can expect Grant, Wilson and Pyrgos to all get a "rest".

I don't know why but I get the feeling that a few of the boys who haven't featured yet may make their debuts as well (Paris, McGuigan, Campbell) so it could be interesting to see what team Toonie puts out!

GLASGOW WARRIORS TEAM TO PLAY ZEBRE IN THE RABODIRECT PRO12 AT SCOTSTOUN STADIUM ON FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER (KICK-OFF 7.35PM)

15 Fraser Thomson

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Byron McGuigan

12 Graeme Morrison

11 DTH van der Merwe

10 Ruaridh Jackson

9 Sean Kennedy

1 Gordon Reid

2 Finlay Gillies

3 Mike Cusack

4 Tom Ryder

5 Tim Swinson

6 Angus Macdonald

7 Chris Fusaro (CAPTAIN)

8 Josh Strauss

SUBSTITUTES

16 Dougie Hall

17 Ofa Fainga'anuku

18 Moray Low

19 James Eddie

20 Ryan Wilson

21 Niko Matawalu

22 Peter Horne

23 Stuart Hogg

Not considered for selection due to injury: Chris Cusiter (shoulder), Rob Harley (knee), Ed Kalman (back), Rory Lamont (leg), Pat MacArthur (foot), Jon Welsh (shoulder), Duncan Weir (knee)

Don't think Townsend will make too many changes and doubt the new boys will be starting after a week of training.

15 - Murchie
14 - Seymour
13 - Dumbar
12 - Horne
11 - DTH
10 - Weir
9 - Pyrgos
8 - Wilson
7 - Fusaro
6 - McDonald
5 - Kellock
4 - Swinson
3 - Low
2 - Hall
1 - Reid

16 - Gillies, 17 - Fainga'anuku, 18 - Cusack, 19 - Ryder, 20 - Strauss, 21 - Matawalu, 22 - Jackson, 23 - Paris

They'll have a cracking squad once Welsh, MacArthur, Harley, Cusiter, Lamont and Hogg are fit.

Agreed ReallyBored - I think that mid-season is when the Warriors will start to motor.

I think if he'd gone to a more fashionable club than Glasgow, then the signing of Strauss would have received much more attention - by far one of the very best players never to have played for the Bokke and a piece of business so good I cannot believe Toonie did this without some help from Grown Ups. He will make a massive difference.

I am also expecting Niko to make a real difference to the backlines. Not sure if the Meatball will appreciate the quick tap penalties and the eye for a break but Jackson certainly will.

Playing against a front row of Fainga'anuku, Gillies and Cusack would be like trying to shift a hundredweight of wet sandbags and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they play. Some great combos remain to be tested and to do it against the Zebras is certainly the time to do it.

Whatever the team that the Weegies put out, I hope that they take Zebre seriously - potential banana skin in the making there, if ever I saw one

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Whatever the team that the Weegies put out, I hope that they take Zebre seriously - potential banana skin in the making there, if ever I saw one

Don't say it, Asbo! You said 'Macbeth'.

I know, I said it before Exe vs London Welsh too, and look what happened, altho the real lesson of that game is not to go 14 points up inside 10 mins!

Considering a win is vital and its a home game, I can't see too many changes. I would go with something like:

15 - Murchie
14 - Lamont
13 - Dunbar
12 - Horne
11 - DTH
10 - Weir/Jackson
9 - Pyrgos

1 - Reid
2 - Hall
3 - Cusack
4 - Swinson
5 - Ryder
6 - Eddie
7 - Fusaro
8 - Strauss

16 - Gillies, 17 - Fainga'anuku, 18 - Low, 19 - McDonald/Campbell, 20 - Wilson, 21 - Matawalu, 22 - Wight, 23 - Seymour

Can see Grant and possibly Kellock getting rested as part of the Scotland Squad rest programme. Not sure if Weir is fit, hence my either or with Jackson.

As for the squad it is looking pretty strong. Still don't think we have the starting XV to compete with the top sides in the HC over a 6 game group stage. But if you look at the type of XV we can put out, by just selecting the players who were not involved for one reason or another last Friday, its very strong (by previous Glasgow standards).


15 - Hogg/F Thomson
14 - Seymour
13 - McGuigan/Hogg
12 - Morrison
11 - R Lamont
10 - Weir
9 - Cusiter

1 - Welsh
2 - McArthur
3 - Kalman
4 - Campbell
5 - Ryder
6 - Harley
7 - Fusaro
8 - Strauss

2 games before a H-cup game, normally we see in a season, teams approach in one of two ways.

1) start season with first team to get them match fit, rest some in each of middle 2 games (last 2), and reintroduce them for next two building towards H-cup.

2) (Irish teams with IRFU rest at start of season after summer tour) Start with resting players, slowly introducing them over a period, so all should be back 3 games before first H-cup game.

However I think Glasgow will have seen the schedule, and gone play first 4 (maybe rest a few, but not as much as other teams), then rest enmass V Zebre at home, (think Glasgow will be confident they can get BP win without most of their first team players) and then play them all again next game in build up to H-cup, also gives a chance for other players to stake a claim for h-cup spot.

Therefore I see alot of the first team that have played alot rested in this game, but a number of key players will be on the bench, just in case.

I'd go for:

15 - Murchie
14 - Seymour
13 - Dunbar
12 - Horne
11 - DTH
10 - Jackson
9 - Matawalu/Pyrgos

1 - Reid
2 - Gillies
3 - Cusack
4 - Campbell
5 - Ryder
6 - Jedi
7 - Fusaro
8 - Strauss

16 - Hall, 17 - Fainga'anuku, 18 - Low, 19 - McDonald, 20 - Swinson, 21 - Matawalu/Pyrgos, 22 - Wight, 23 -McGuigan

In my view this keeps a good balance between regulars and the new boys.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:
As for the squad it is looking pretty strong. Still don't think we have the starting XV to compete with the top sides in the HC over a 6 game group stage. But if you look at the type of XV we can put out, by just selecting the players who were not involved for one reason or another last Friday, its very strong (by previous Glasgow standards).


15 - Hogg/F Thomson
14 - Seymour
13 - McGuigan/Hogg
12 - Morrison
11 - R Lamont
10 - Weir
9 - Cusiter

1 - Welsh
2 - McArthur
3 - Kalman
4 - Campbell
5 - Ryder
6 - Harley
7 - Fusaro
8 - Strauss

It's the long-term injuries of players in red that will hurt any chance Glasgow had in the Heino this year imo - a real shame, but next year, I believe that they will be the better for it

McArthur, Cusiter and Hogg are big misses.

Hopefully though Hogg will be back for the HC games.

Are those all long-term injuries? Thought Weir was only a knock, can't find any info on when Lamont, Morrison and Welsh are expected back

True, Pat, Weir is just a knock, as I think Morrison more or less is.

I wasn't under the impression Morrison was injured, just out of favour.

Want happened between him and Kellock a couple weeks ago?

reallybored wrote:I wasn't under the impression Morrison was injured, just out of favour.

Want happened between him and Kellock a couple weeks ago?

???

Scot Abroad wrote:

reallybored wrote:I wasn't under the impression Morrison was injured, just out of favour.

Want happened between him and Kellock a couple weeks ago?

???

Wasn't aware of anything between them? I just thought Graeme had done his ankle in the Scarlets game? In fairness even with Morrison's fairly abrasive sense of humour he's still a fairly decent guy (not like Rory Lamont) so I can't see him and Kellock falling out, especially after playing together for so many years!

Scot Abroad wrote:

reallybored wrote:I wasn't under the impression Morrison was injured, just out of favour.

Want happened between him and Kellock a couple weeks ago?

???

They had "words" after the game. Don't think it had anything to do with his non inclusion last week.

If it's the Scarlets game then I think everyone had "words" after the game... Big Al ripped them a new one on the field at the end but I think it worked in fairness... Just look at the result the following week!

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:If it's the Scarlets game then I think everyone had "words" after the game... Big Al ripped them a new one on the field at the end but I think it worked in fairness... Just look at the result the following week!

Yeah, the Scarlets game. Not saying that it was why he was left out, just pointing out what was being talked about between Kellock and Morrison, ie not much!

GLASGOW WARRIORS TEAM TO PLAY ZEBRE IN THE RABODIRECT PRO12 AT SCOTSTOUN STADIUM ON FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER (KICK-OFF 7.35PM)

15 Fraser Thomson

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Byron McGuigan

12 Graeme Morrison

11 DTH van der Merwe

10 Ruaridh Jackson

9 Sean Kennedy

1 Gordon Reid

2 Finlay Gillies

3 Mike Cusack

4 Tom Ryder

5 Tim Swinson

6 Angus Macdonald

7 Chris Fusaro (CAPTAIN)

8 Josh Strauss

SUBSTITUTES

16 Dougie Hall

17 Ofa Fainga'anuku

18 Moray Low

19 James Eddie

20 Ryan Wilson

21 Niko Matawalu

22 Peter Horne

23 Stuart Hogg

Not considered for selection due to injury: Chris Cusiter (shoulder), Rob Harley (knee), Ed Kalman (back), Rory Lamont (leg), Pat MacArthur (foot), Jon Welsh (shoulder), Duncan Weir (knee)

Loads of changes, all the new signings involved, and great to see Hogg back from injury so quick!

Quite a lot of new faces in there - lets hope they aren't taking things likely cause Zebre might be targeting this now.

Surely Hogg on the bench is a mistake?? Unbelievable that he has recovered that quickly.

I guess the medical staff overestimated how bad the injury was when they first assessed it! Great news though

Too many changes for my liking - Warriors need to be targeting this game as a potential 5 points. Strong bench to come on mind if things are going TU

RDW_Scotland wrote:Quite a lot of new faces in there - lets hope they aren't taking things likely cause Zebre might be targeting this now.

Gone from any less than a bp win would be disappointing, to any kind of win will do. Four debutants starting, and two more on the bench.

Troy Nathan must be seriously out of favour with the coaching set-up.

To be fair, 4-8 (inclusive) could be regarded as first XV picks. Lovely to see Strauss start.

The backline is a Frankenstein's monster though.

WTF is Morrison doing in there? Nurse, the special injection please.

I haven't seen Kennedy play before, any opinions?

Also, who takes over at 10 if Jackson is injured?

I'm sure Morrison could give it a bash....(literally!)

Imagine what we'll all be like if Morrison does step in for Jackson and it turns out he's a natural attacking 10. All this time he's been played out of position.

Manky-Flanker wrote:I haven't seen Kennedy play before, any opinions?

Also, who takes over at 10 if Jackson is injured?

Horne will cover 10. Wight not being in the squad suggests that Jackson is to be given the 80 minutes, so no point for Wight to be on the bench. That is risky strategy!

George Carlin wrote:To be fair, 4-8 (inclusive) could be regarded as first XV picks. Lovely to see Strauss start.

True, but Swinson and MacDonald both are lacking match sharpness and Strauss has just got off a plane. So its hardly ideal. That said, its an area where we should more than hold our own on Friday night.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

George Carlin wrote:To be fair, 4-8 (inclusive) could be regarded as first XV picks. Lovely to see Strauss start.

True, but Swinson and MacDonald both are lacking match sharpness and Strauss has just got off a plane. So its hardly ideal. That said, its an area where we should more than hold our own on Friday night.

Agreed Dot - they have to get some game time somewhere, so by far the best option for it to be against Aironi Ladies Second XXII.

If Glasgow don't pick up a bonus point win here Townsend will have a lot to answer for. There is too much rotation going on, it'll be amazing if Glasgow can string together any sort of continuity in the first 40 minutes.

Partnerships need time to gel, and this would have been an ideal fixture for Horne and Dunbar to play together again.

Murchie must be really frustrated that he isn't being given the chance to follow-up on what must have been his best performance in a Glasgow jersey last week against Connacht.

It's pleasing to see Hogg back, and I'm looking forward to seeing the sort of impact we get from Matawalu, but otherwise this selection is a real gamble.

In years past Glasgow has not had the strength in depth required to compete effectively in the Rabo/Magners and the HC. Now that they have more strength in depth, they have to use those players.

I think its a good decision to use this game to ease in the new arrivals. Likewise, if guys like Mcguigan, kennedy etc are being selected on merit in training, then there is no better game to give them their first chance.

The bonus point is important, but I think giving more of the squad gametime and getting them matchfit is equally important for the teams aspirations later in the season and certainly over international windows.

Just hope jackson doesn't need to be replaced anytime during the match!

It's not the concept of rotation that bothers me, it's more the mass rotation. There's no point rotating players for the sake of it to get everyone fit for the end of the season, if by March Glasgow are third up from the bottom.

This is a home game and a bonus point banker. If Townsend pulls that off it'll look an inspired selection, and prove that Glasgow have depth, but there are too many changes and new faces for my liking.

I hope this rotation settles down as we get into the season proper - as FES says the odd player or two is fine but units needs a run of games to gel, particularly the front row.

It is a balancing act. Getting more players involved but also keeping up the winning results. Against anyone else I doubt so many changes would have been made. You're right though, the question is have too many been made for Zebre? Only the result will tell us that.

At the end of the day, competition for places doesn't mean much if the competition for your jersey never gets the chance to shine on the pitch. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new guys can do, particularly Strauss.

Well, its nothing if not a bold strategy. The pack, regardless of the changes, is pretty solid. Add in Harley to that backrow and you have a pretty formidable trio.

Behind the scrum it a slightly different story - haven't seen anything of Kennedy, McGuigan or Thomson. Lets hope the gamble pays off.

The forwards should be able to choke the life out of the game.

The issue will be how the back combinations will work. McGuigan at centre will be interesting - he's always looked a little lightweight and so I assume that this is why they've paired him with Morrison - a defensive brick wall who understands the midfield channels and will help get him organised.

Agree with FES - rotation should be strictly in accordance with a policy and this merry-go-round looks like nothing more than inexperienced coaching.

Eh Hogg back already? that was quick, Glasgow now got a witch doctor?

R Lamont next to get suddenly better or is that something that no magic or miracle will ever do.

Also where's Troy Nathan? Toonie no like him?

As Dorothy stated earlier, Nathan must be out of favour. He hasn't even been registered for Glasgow's HC team.

Wee bit hard on Peter Murchie after his strong showings so far but interesting otherwise.

allyt2k wrote:Also where's Troy Nathan? Toonie no like him?

Would look that way and he's not in the HC squad either.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Wee bit hard on Peter Murchie after his strong showings so far but interesting otherwise.

Don't think that he is dropped, more to do with resting. Agree though that it is tough on him, especially with Hogg back in the mix, it might have been his last chance to impress for a while.

Unless they plan to keep him at FB and play Hogg at OC.

I'd have thought Murchie would be desperate to play this game. Whilst I don't agree personally, some fans have already mentioned him as a Scotland prospect at fullback, and another performance like Connacht and more would no doubt agree. This should be a game where Glasgow have a fair bit of ball to impress with, so a good chance for the outside backs to shine.

As noted above, I think this is a pretty surprising team selection, and a big gamble.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd have thought Murchie would be desperate to play this game. Whilst I don't agree personally, some fans have already mentioned him as a Scotland prospect at fullback, and another performance like Connacht and more would no doubt agree. This should be a game where Glasgow have a fair bit of ball to impress with, so a good chance for the outside backs to shine.

As noted above, I think this is a pretty surprising team selection, and a big gamble.

I'm not convinced that he is that, fES - more of a good club player for me than a genuine international. i suspect the pecking order for Scotland reads something like Hogg, Brown/Lamont, Tonks at the moment

What's the point of RLamont - when you look at him he breaks something

Pity that "something" isn't wind