Glasgow Warriors v Northampton Saints Saturday 19 January 2013 1335

Well who does Toonie select for this game when he is about to lose 19 players to the Scottish 6Ns squad ?
Can the Warriors break this year's Heino duck ?
Can Saints win a 5 pointer, and, depending on results elsewhere still go through to the 1/4s?
Any Saints supporters travelling - the SRU site looks like Scotstoun is near capacity?

For me :

Welsh MacArthur Kalman
Swinson Ryder
Strauss, Wilson Fusaro (Harley if Fozzy not fit))
Kennedy Weir
Horne Dunbar
DTH Hogg Maitland

is my 15 to start with.

Pretty sure that's only 13 players. Northampton are a fairly handy outfit, so I'd certainly suggest that Toonie picks a couple of centres as well.

Fusaro must play the full 80. We need to know whether or not he's fit and ready. Harley and Wilson should also start if fit, otherwise I'm not sure they can be considered for Scotland, which would be a shame given their form this season.

Apologies miseed out our centres - Horne and Dunbar - maybe Schlong if fit - sorted now fES

Will Glasgow have enough props for this week? Were some of them playing last weekend for feeder clubs so they could return that soon or are they still a ways off that?

Off topic I know but Troy Nathan's leaving at the end of the week. Thought he'd get some gametime during the 6 Nations.
And German Araoz.

Thats a pity Nathan was a useful cover 10-15 player. Good tee kicker too. Araoz looked a useful bug prop too.

MrsP wrote:Will Glasgow have enough props for this week? Were some of them playing last weekend for feeder clubs so they could return that soon or are they still a ways off that?

Feeder clubs ? Mmmmm - Jon Welsh and Ed Kalman played for Stirling County - 40 mins each. So they may get a shot on Saturday

I wasn't sure what term to use but you get the general drift!

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:

MrsP wrote:Will Glasgow have enough props for this week? Were some of them playing last weekend for feeder clubs so they could return that soon or are they still a ways off that?

Feeder clubs ? Mmmmm - Jon Welsh and Ed Kalman played for Stirling County - 40 mins each. So they may get a shot on Saturday

Unfortunately Welsh and Kalman were never in the HC squad.

We need 1 of Ofa, Cusack or Hunter to be fit - Any news?

Jeez thats right. I forgot about that. Think it unlikely that the Coo will be fit as they said a month.

UiG will know ????????

Earth calling Clyde come in please !

We have to finish off this HC campaign with our heads held high. Play the strongest team possible and go all out for the win. It would be a disaster if we finished with no wins.

1 Welsh
2 MacArthur
3 Low
4 Swinson
5 Kellock
6 Harley
7 Fusaro
8 Wilson
9 Pyrgos
10 Jackson
11 DTH
12 Horne
13 Dunbar
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

16 Hall
17 Reid
18 Ofa
19 Ryder
20 Strauss
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Seymour

Apparently Welsh isn't in the squad so...

Nope. No Welshy or Ed for this match. I think Ofa will have recovered and should be on the bench, so no repeat of last week.

I'm bloody disappointed that Troy is leaving too... Smacks of when Jedi was out of contract and got pushed from pillar to post. Just when we are about to lose 19 player they decide its time to cancel his contract... Toonie has a lot to answer for the "falling out" he had with Troy!

Unfortunately I can't make it up to Glasgow to support the Saints. Would have enjoyed seeing Scotstoun. I do have a couple of mates heading up, though. They will have to channel my support through them to the lads.

Saints probably have not much more than an ice cubes's chance, but we play the game and see what happens.
No doubts Saints need the 4 try bonus. And just as sure Glasgow need to get the win. Hopefully a good match for all.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:Nope. No Welshy or Ed for this match. I think Ofa will have recovered and should be on the bench, so no repeat of last week.

I'm bloody disappointed that Troy is leaving too... Smacks of when Jedi was out of contract and got pushed from pillar to post. Just when we are about to lose 19 player they decide its time to cancel his contract... Toonie has a lot to answer for the "falling out" he had with Troy!

UiG, any details on the falling out - its pretty clear from the body language of the two that something went down between them?

I actually rate Nathan higher than Murchie as a footballer so I count this as a real loss. Can't blame him necessarily - Dunbar and Horne seem to be the first choice centres and his Canadian and Kiwi colleagues have the first choice wing spots nailed down. Couldn't give a Royal wee about this one - just pray that nobody gets injured - especially Harley. Welsh should be back, I think?

My understanding was that Troy is playing this weekend and leaving Glasgow next week????

Pity you guys never saw him wearing a No 10 jersey..

Nathan isn't in the HC squad so I presume he'll just be at Scotstoun to say his thankyous and goodbyes to the fans and the players.

Feel sorry for Troy Nathan. Always seemed to me to be a decent player for Glasgow to have around. I guess him not being Scots qualified has probably led them to prefer Horne and Murchie, which I can understand.

Frankly, I'd take Nathan at Edinburgh if I had the chance.

Fair play, fES, he's a considerably better player than Atiga and Francis imo

He was a Lineen man through and through, which probably didn't help. He struggled with injuries to his shoulder at the start of the season and then when he managed to get his form back found himself behind Horne, Dunbar, Lamont and Murchie in the centre.

I think it has all been due to him not getting any gametime, and subsequent to that not getting added to the Heino squad in favour of everyone's favourite Saffa pretty boy McGuigan...

He's got 18 months til he's Scots qualified and would be a damn sight better option than either Atiga or Francis for Edinburgh. Might allow them to rest Greig Tonks too!

doctor_grey wrote:Unfortunately I can't make it up to Glasgow to support the Saints. Would have enjoyed seeing Scotstoun. I do have a couple of mates heading up, though. They will have to channel my support through them to the lads.

Saints probably have not much more than an ice cubes's chance, but we play the game and see what happens.
No doubts Saints need the 4 try bonus. And just as sure Glasgow need to get the win. Hopefully a good match for all.

Doc, if your mates need any inside track info on the fleshpots of Glasgow please PM me (not post mortem as I know you are a medical person and I am, still, barely alive) and you can pass it on or get them to do so if on 606v2. Hope we get a good game too but a wee Warrior victory would be awful nice.

Yes Troy Nathan would be a really good signing for the MFLs - may even come back to hurt the Warriors too !

Glasgow's shambolic HC season ends with a somehow fitting bizarre selection (granted injury forced). Only 3 forwards on the bench. (5 Props missing and 4 Backrow Forwards all out)

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Byron McGuigan
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Sean Maitland

10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Niko Matawalu

1 Gordon Reid
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Moray Low
4 Tim Swinson
5 Al Kellock (Captain)
6 Josh Strauss
7 James Eddie
8 Ryan Wilson

16 Doug Hall
17 Ryan Grant
18 N/A
19 Tom Ryder
20 Alex Dunbar
21 Sean Kennedy
22 Scott Wight
23 Peter Horne

DTH is away to South Africa so misses the game.

I know there is another thread going on about are Edinburgh the worst HC team in history, while that is obviously nonsense. I have one that is more up for debate.

Worst Center Combination in HC history?

13 Byron McGuigan
12 Graeme Morrison

Keep it simple DOT.

Byron McGuigan - worst 13 of all time?

I cannot for the life of me understand why Dunbar is not starting this game at 13. It makes sense both for Glasgow and certainly for Scotland to see him play there - particularly with Lamont still injured, NDL and Ansbro injured and Grove deemed surplus to requirements.

A big performance at 13 from Dunbar would have put him straight into contention for Twickenham. Currently Max Evans is the only fit 13 in the Scotland squad, and I don't think anyone under 18 years of age should be allowed to see what Manu Tuilagi would do to Max Evans.

I think that players are being rested for Scotland and guys like Dunbar are only in the squad for tomorrow as the coach has to fill the bench with someone.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:I know there is another thread going on about are Edinburgh the worst HC team in history, while that is obviously nonsense. I have one that is more up for debate.

Worst Center Combination in HC history?

13 Byron McGuigan
12 Graeme Morrison

It's certainly the most infathomable shutgun wedding of differing players and styles, the common thread of course being that neither is particuarly good at playing rugby.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:I think that players are being rested for Scotland and guys like Dunbar are only in the squad for tomorrow as the coach has to fill the bench with someone.

Rested? He hasn't play a huge amount recently has he. I prefer my players match sharp above anything else. With the rugby he's had over the last month, I'd be nervous about Dunbar going straight in at 13 against England.

Fusaro injured - not good news for Scotland

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:I think that players are being rested for Scotland and guys like Dunbar are only in the squad for tomorrow as the coach has to fill the bench with someone.

Rested? He hasn't play a huge amount recently has he. I prefer my players match sharp above anything else. With the rugby he's had over the last month, I'd be nervous about Dunbar going straight in at 13 against England.

I was coming up with a reason why Dunbar is not starting as it can't be that Townsend thinks McGuigan is a better 13, surely?

Where is Weir and Pygros? All these desicions appear now to be Townsend decisions as, Visser, Scott, Laidlaw etc are all starting for Edinburgh.

Pyrgos I'm quite happy to be rested. He's played enough this season and he's our only specialist scrum half in the Scotland squad, putting Kennedy to one side.

Very surprised that Weir isn't on the bench, but he really didn't play well against Ulster, and perhaps Toonie is punishing him for that. Harsh, because as we've learned painfully at Edinburgh, one game really isn't enough for a 10 to settle, and changing fly half every single week means that the team never properly settles into any sort of rhythm.

I don't understand McGuigan. How did he get into the HC squad ahead of Nathan or Bennett?

funnyExiledScot wrote:

I don't understand McGuigan. How did he get into the HC squad ahead of Nathan or Bennett?

Bennett was not signed when the squad was announced. Him being selected in-front of Nathan was the clear indication at the time that Nathans time was up at the Warriors.

Couldn't they have swapped or added Bennett, or is there a limit to doing that? Presumably that's what happened with Maitland.

Where did McGuigan come from?

funnyExiledScot wrote:Couldn't they have swapped or added Bennett, or is there a limit to doing that? Presumably that's what happened with Maitland.

Where did McGuigan come from?

South African Rugby although he had played for Scotland 7s before he had played for Scotland.

We had 2 changes for the HC. Maitland came as did Ofa the prop, who in true Glasgow fashion is injured when he actually is needed.

It just seems a shame that whilst Scotland struggles for any options at 13, the one kid who is supposed to be the future is sitting on his hands doing nothing, having wasted almost an entire season.

Is Wee Dunky away to play with DHSFP or Stirling or Ayr ? If not why not and if not, for tomorrow, why is he not in the 22(3)?Something smells bad here. While i am one of the few on here to rate Jackson and am glad Scott Wight is getting a shout, if DW is in the Scotland set up then WTF is going on here ?

I am slightly sceptical about these 'injuries' to Schlong and Fozzy. I think that we may well find those players are mysteriously absent from view during the games and yet turn up fresh for Scotland. Not a bad McBumfertie Directive if that's true.

Toonie cannot be seen to not play his strongest team but is it really coincidental that these fresh injuries are to players pivotal to the national cause.

I hope that's true. I really do. Particularly Lamont, who I think we need at 13 against England.

With Fusaro I'm sceptical. He has hardly played in the last month, so if he's fit then surely he'd be starting in place of Eddie, or at least on the bench for some game time.

To put another way, I cannot believe that there won't have been some kind of SRU intervention in the selection for these two games. Too much at stake internationally in a fortnight's time.

Hopefully Hogg, Low and Maitland will be yanked from the park after a token run out.

The Jedi at 7 - he will, as usual, give his all for the cause but not a 7

Back row is horribly unbalanced as is the midfield. Mcguigan has to be the worst pick in Toonie's short time in charge of the Warriors. He combines the power of an undernourished chimney sweep with the skill set and decision making of a drunken chimp.
Watching him attempt to mark George Pisi will be entertaining if rather unsuccessful, i suspect.

so what do you reckon thescore will be guys, pitch going to be heavy, Glasgow gritto get them home for first win ?

Reckon we will lose by 6 or 7. McGuigan is not a good rugby player and a bit brainless too. Welcome Sanjose1 - pull up a chair and have a laugh and greet with us !

Not looking forwards to the 1st scrum with Low (who got schooled last week) and Reid who is a terrible scrummager.

On a positive note, Morrisson won't allow those soft breaks through the midfields which cost an away win to Franklin's Garden.

At least Doran Jones is not as effective in the scrum as Mujati, still be too much for Reid though. Saints have an enormous front 5 with a strong bench so it would be a hell of an achievement to hold them with the resources thinned out

The front and back row will be key to Glasgow's chances of staying in touch in the game.
I have not been convinced by Strauss's work rate since joining glasgow, he seems to take a lot of rests, particularly when you compare him to the ginger Gachinne that is Rob Harley, sadly injured for this one.

Also Low had a nightmare last week with Tonga'uhia starting i cant see it being much better. If we are bossed at the scrum and struggle to turn over any ball at contact it will be a very tough game for the Weege.

It has become even clearer that Mike Cusack is immensely important to the scrum and we need him back fully fit ASAP.

Also with the flyweight McGuigan at 13 Pisi should have an easy time making ground.
Im not very hopeful for this one lads.

yeah, Strauss looks like he could shed a few pounds

How pathetic is Hodges? one of the worst reffing i have ever seen.

Looks like this will be a try