Glasgow V Racing

Scotland international winger Tommy Seymour returns to the Glasgow Warriors starting line-up for tomorrow’s European Rugby Champions Cup match at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock, after recovering from a hamstring injury.Tommy Seymour returns to the Glasgow line-up

Fly-half Duncan Weir could make his 100th appearance for the club from the bench.

The Warriors play Racing 92 in their final pool match, with the French Top 14 leaders having already qualified for a home play-off as pool winners.

The Warriors sit third in Pool 3 and would need to take maximum points from tomorrow’s game and hope a host of other results go their way in order to secure a runner-up spot on 15 points.

Stuart Hogg is at full-back, while Taqele Naiyaravoro comes in for Lee Jones on the right wing and Seymour replaces Sean Lamont on the left wing.

Alex Dunbar and Sam Johnson continue their centre partnership, while Finn Russell and Ali Price once again form the half-back pairing.

In the pack Alex Allan comes in for Gordon Reid at loose-head, Shalva Mamukashvili replaces Pat MacArthur at hooker and Sila Puafisi once again starts at tight-head.

Leone Nakarawa moves from the second-row to Number 8, with USA international Greg Peterson coming in to the starting line-up to partner captain Jonny Gray.

After being added the to the Warriors Champions Cup squad earlier this week, James Eddie makes his third appearance of the season and starts at blind-side flanker, while Italian international Simone Favaro starts at open-side.

Two BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy stage three players have been named amongst Glasgow's replacements, with second-row Scott Cummings in line to make his European debut and hooker James Malcolm also in contention to feature.

More than 8,500 tickets have been sold for tomorrow evening's game but tickets are still available from glasgowwarriors.org and from the ticket office until 5pm this evening on 0844 800 3490. Tickets will also be available from Rugby Park from 12 noon tomorrow.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We’re determined to deliver a winning performance for our supporters, who will travel to Kilmarnock for this home fixture. Rugby Park has a quality playing surface and we’re expecting a large crowd, so it should be fantastic occasion.

"Racing 92 are packed with quality players and are in great form. This will be a good challenge for our players against one of the leading teams in Europe.

“Duncan (Weir) continues to work harder than ever, is really committed and brings energy to his performances. I’m sure that he will get a great reception from our supporters if he’s able to make his 100th appearance for the club tomorrow night.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Racing 92, European Rugby Champions Cup, Rugby Park in Kilmarnock, Saturday 23 January (kick-off 5.30pm) – live on Sky Sports 4:  
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro
13. Alex Dunbar
12. Sam Johnson
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price

1. Alex Allan
2. Shalva Mamukashvili
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Greg Peterson
5. Jonny Gray (Captain)
6. James Eddie
7. Simone Favaro
8. Leone Nakarawa

Replacements

16. James Malcolm
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Scott Cummings
20. Chris Fusaro
21. Grayson Hart
22. Duncan Weir
23. Lee Jones

Not available due to injury: Adam Ashe (shoulder), Mark Bennett (shoulder), Mike Blair (concussion), Fraser Brown (ankle), Kevin Bryce (shoulder), Rob Harley (thumb), Tyrone Holmes (foot), Peter Horne (foot), Pat MacArthur (calf), Henry Pyrgos (wrist), Gordon Reid (concussion), Fergus Scott (shoulder), Josh Strauss (concussion) and Richie Vernon (shoulder).


Racing 92
15. Brice Dulin; 14. Louis Dupichot, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Alexandre Dumoulin, 11. Marc Andreu; 10. Remi Tales, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Julien Brugnaut, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Luc Ducalcon, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Francois van der Merwe, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Bernard Le Roux, 8. Chris Masoe

16. Virgile Lacombe, 17. Davit Khinchagishvili, 18. Cedate Gomes Sa, 19. Thibault Dubarry, 20. Juandre Kruger, 21. Xavier Chauveau, 22. Etienne Dussartre, 23. Benjamin Dambielle

I really hope we don't pick up any Scotland related injuries given this is a dead rubber for Glasgow.

Hogg in particular has played a lot of games in a row now.

Also, Gordie Reid is used as the Kilmarnock poster boy for this game and he isn't even in the squad!

Racing 92
15. Brice Dulin; 14. Louis Dupichot, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Alexandre Dumoulin, 11. Marc Andreu; 10. Remi Tales, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Julien Brugnaut, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Luc Ducalcon, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Francois van der Merwe, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Bernard Le Roux, 8. Chris Masoe

16. Virgile Lacombe, 17. Davit Khinchagishvili, 18. Cedate Gomes Sa, 19. Thibault Dubarry, 20. Juandre Kruger, 21. Xavier Chauveau, 22. Etienne Dussartre, 23. Benjamin Dambielle

Dan Carter rested

No, Toonie has not held back. He clearly sees a decent win here as a way of kickstarting the season for Glasgow.

It is hard to know how motivated the French will be. I suspect it will be more of a nothing game to them than to us.

Good to see the young kids Cummings and Malcolm getting a run out and good to see Ali Price getting another start. He seems, quite rightly to have leapfrogged over Hart in the pecking order and should keep on getting plenty gametime in the international window.

He seems to have taken the view that Russell and Hoggy need to play themselves into form. He may well be right on that one as well.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also, Gordie Reid is used as the Kilmarnock poster boy for this game and he isn't even in the squad!

On the crocked step, another concusion. Strauss and Blair still listed as out as well. It has taken a bit of a toll this year for us, but good to see player welfare being taken so seriously.

Team's up;

1. Allan
2. Big Mama
3. Puafisi
4. The Captain
5.. Oscar
6. Return Of The Jedi...Let's see what tricks he's learned on the 7's circuit.
7. Nina (thanks Bru)
8 Flagball

9.Half Price (or All 1 Price)
10. Dancer
11. Tennessee Tam
12. Dictionary
13. Pudding
14 Big T
15 Hogg

Jerry Yanu, Dr Malcolm and Ragnar the Mental are the replacement front row
Scott Try Machine Cummings to replace Jonny
Fozzie to come on for Big Naka
Hart
Meatball, who could come on for his 100th appearance
Lee Jones.

That's quite a serious back line. If they get good ball they could run riot. It's the pack which raises the questions.
I am surprised that Shrek isn't playing, the front row risks being underpowered without him. And Wee Mike looks to be well out of favour at the moment. If we don't see him during the Six Nations I wonder if we'll see him again.

RDW, you're a brave man starting a thread after Bru's magnum opus. If only they built bridges the way he constructs threads.
Also, Shrek is listed as "concussion". I imagine it would have been a scene straight out of Any Given Sunday when they told him,

"Ah dinnae get concussions...Ah gie them. Straight aff the bus."

It is a very lazy thread Jimbo and only made because you lazy weegies hadn't made one yourself!

Was it the bridge comment?

I don't have time to start an argument never mind a thread. I'm far too busy memorising my Six Handy Phrases For A Day Out With Schiz;

Oh, alright if you insist but just a short

Yes, sir, I know you rarely travel by public transport but that is not what my companion meant when he offered to meet you "off the bus"

No madam, my elderly friend does not have a footwear fetish. He always scans for Clownshoes when he enters a room.

No, Schiz you did not buy the last four rounds.

No, Schiz I do not want to see "that kebab shop"

Yes, please. Could you teach me all the words to "WE Are Warriors We Are Warriors"

Jim, you forgot "No, honestly, I'm not Ian's dad."

No that's in the Beginner's Guide To Bruspeak

right next to

Are all Sithe Effrikens as quiet as you?

Its raining in Killmarnock!

This is an awful match so far.

BigGee wrote:Its raining in Killmarnock!

Scotstoun definitely wouldn't have been playable. Rugby Park is a very nice place and Glasgow should be playing there week in week out until they get another alternative to the woeful Scotstoun.

A few flashes, but the weather is winning at the moment!

VinceWLB wrote:

BigGee wrote:Its raining in Killmarnock!

Scotstoun definitely wouldn't have been playable. Rugby Park is a very nice place and Glasgow should be playing there week in week out until they get another alternative to the woeful Scotstoun.

Its just a bit far out from Glasgow to be viable but it shows what a decent pitch can do. Its perfect despite the conditions. Scotstoun could be a half decent venue if it had a pitch like this. Unfortunately it does not stop the ball being like a bar of soap!

Hogg scored!
Russell Converts

13-0

Racing try, truck and trailers completely ignored by Barnes.

Another poor performance from Glasgow. Finn Russell absolute p!sh again.

Just as I say that Glasgow seem to up their game.

cakeordeath - was about to ask which Glasgow match you are watching 

It's not the greatest game but they are beating the form team in europe with a 2nd choice pack.

Russell didn't miss a kick on goal and din't make any howlers. He's not himself yet but by no means pish.

Weir with another pen.
22-5
1 min to go.

A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:cakeordeath - was about to ask which Glasgow match you are watching 

It's not the greatest game but they are beating the form team in europe with a 2nd choice pack.

Russell didn't miss a kick on goal and din't make any howlers. He's not himself yet but by no means pish.

Weir with another pen.
22-5
1 min to go.

They are playing the first 15 Racing players who couldn't make it out of the dressing room quickly enough to hide from the coach. How many times did we come away with Frak all while in the opposition 22. Russell made some more poor decisions. Score line flatters

The Saints would have put double the points on that Racing team than we did

VinceWLB wrote:Racing try, truck and trailers completely ignored by Barnes.

I thought so at first glance but actually a glasgow player was in between on the far side from the main camera angle - anyway how many mauls don't have 3 infringements in them?

That's a good solid performance from Glasgow, even without Swinson stupidity they wouldn't have qualified so they shouldn't be too disappointed.

Peterson showed up greatly and Glasgow wouldn't miss Swinson if he didn't play any game from now on.

Glasgow won a game!

cakeordeath wrote:The Saints would have put double the points on that Racing team than we did

Completely disagree, Stains are a terrible team how they got through the group stage beggars belief.

Good Win. HOgg looks to be getting back into form as does Russell. FFS tho - why risk Seymour for the last 20 mins. I hope he is not broken. Big Taki looks to be settling in. Weir a good cameo. Jedi showed well. Scrum solid. Dunbar - did he survive unbroken? Big Naka was great.

Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

VinceWLB wrote:That's a good solid performance from Glasgow, even without Swinson stupidity they wouldn't have qualified so they shouldn't be too disappointed.

Peterson showed up greatly and Glasgow wouldn't miss Swinson if he didn't play any game from now on.

I think Swinson should be ditched - I really do. He has done nothing much good and a lot of bad. Send him to Ayr to become world class!

mikey_dragon wrote:Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

They have been a disgrace to Wales and the whole Pro 12, injuries notwithstanding.

mikey_dragon wrote:Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

Sorry but Glasgow have been mince in the euro cup. Played poorly and did not ever look like getting thru. Should have got thru on form. Played well below their best. This is the team that won the pro 12 last year. They should be challenging Racing to top the group. Poor poor euro cup campaign

I thought Glasgow were a bit wasteful in the first half at times, but a really controlled second half. Defence really strong throughout, and stopped Racing from being able to bully their way through.

Russell made a couple of poor errors, there was a kick out on the full, and a knock-on in front of his own 22, but did some very good things, including a lovely delayed pass for the try, good place-kicking, and I thought he controlled the pace of the game well.

I do enjoy Barnes's way of refereeing. He's keen to reward the side trying to play with ball in hand, which I think suited Glasgow well today.

TJ wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

Sorry but Glasgow have been mince in the euro cup.  Played poorly and did not ever look like getting thru.  Should have got thru on form.  Played well below their best.  This is the team that won the pro 12 last year.  They should be challenging Racing to top the group.  Poor poor euro cup campaign

Tend to agree with TJ on this. Saints's form has been so poor this season that for Glasgow to lost both games to them was really poor. Good to finish on a high, but also a lot of regret for what could have been IMO.

VinceWLB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

They have been a disgrace to Wales and the whole Pro 12, injuries notwithstanding.

I didn't wanna say it, but you've just come out with it . The Scarlets aren't the only team playing 'disgracefully' tbh.

TJ wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good to see Glasgow finish on a high. They've done relatively well in such a tough group, and will hopefully take the experience forward. Less said about the sorry Scarlets, the better.

Sorry but Glasgow have been mince in the euro cup.  Played poorly and did not ever look like getting thru.  Should have got thru on form.  Played well below their best.  This is the team that won the pro 12 last year.  They should be challenging Racing to top the group.  Poor poor euro cup campaign

I do think they should have done better, but they were far from the worst. Glasgow achieved good wins against the Scarlets and Racing, and I think this year is an improvement upon last year in Europe? Onwards and upwards for all of us I hope.

Some encouraging signs for Glasgow. Not least that they could get up for a meaningless match and do one for the fans and their own pride. Ok Racing were already through, but they are potentially the best team in Europe and don't role over easily.

Some good signs of form from Hoggy, Russell and Seymour, VC will be pleased.

Price continues to impress and Naka looks like a natural born N0.8, he has such good hands, I don't think it will be the last time we see him play there.

Special shout out to James Eddie, the unsung hero of Glasgow Warriors, who having not played for months, put in a great shift when required. He is never in anyone's first choice line up but he never disappoints when he is picked. This may well prove to be his last year at the club and he has been a great servant.

Hopefully the rest of our season starts here!

BigGee wrote:Some encouraging signs for Glasgow. Not least that they could get up for a meaningless match and do one for the fans and their own pride. Ok Racing were already through, but they are potentially the best team in Europe and don't role over easily.

Some good signs of form from Hoggy, Russell and Seymour, VC will be pleased.

Price continues to impress and Naka looks like a natural born N0.8, he has such good hands, I don't think it will be the last time we see him play there.

Special shout out to James Eddie, the unsung hero of Glasgow Warriors, who having not played for months, put in a great shift when required. He is never in anyone's first choice line up but he never disappoints when he is picked. This may well prove to be his last year at the club and he has been a great servant.

Hopefully the rest of our season starts here!

Finally finished watching the game last night and felt he had a great game for his level. We have struggled at 6 this season with Harley injured and Strauss struggling a bit. Low and/or Eddie should have had a couple more games since the World Cup. I hope that if Eddie is done at Glasgow, they can agree a deal where he goes to London Scots with a loan back during 6 nations. He would be the old head setting the tone for the young players who may be more talented (the Al Kellock leadership award).

BigGee wrote:Some encouraging signs for Glasgow. Not least that they could get up for a meaningless match and do one for the fans and their own pride. Ok Racing were already through, but they are potentially the best team in Europe and don't role over easily.

Some good signs of form from Hoggy, Russell and Seymour, VC will be pleased.

Price continues to impress and Naka looks like a natural born N0.8, he has such good hands, I don't think it will be the last time we see him play there.

Special shout out to James Eddie, the unsung hero of Glasgow Warriors, who having not played for months, put in a great shift when required. He is never in anyone's first choice line up but he never disappoints when he is picked. This may well prove to be his last year at the club and he has been a great servant.

Hopefully the rest of our season starts here!

Agreed. He plays that way in any case, and it means you can stoke a proper boiler room with Gray/Swinson (i.e. proper grafters).

Only problem is that Naka is not in the least bit interested in trucking the ball up from the scrum. A task that is required a fair bit in a European winter. There were occasions where he broke, went sideways and shoveled the ball out to meatball without making more than a yard.

It wasn't an issue on Saturday as the scrum was pretty solid but wont always be the case. Jedi showed how to carry ball on a wet and windy day. He was miles better than Wilson has been over these last few weeks.

sensisball wrote:Only problem is that Naka is not in the least bit interested in trucking the ball up from  the scrum. A task that is required a fair bit in a European winter. There were occasions where he broke, went sideways and shoveled the ball out to meatball without making more than a yard.

It wasn't an issue on Saturday as the scrum was pretty solid but wont always be the case. Jedi showed how to carry ball on a wet and windy day. He was miles better than Wilson has been over these last few weeks.

The difference between the two players in attitude is vast.

Naka looks like a natural born N0.8, he has such good hands

Sorry Gee. At the base of the scrum Naka looked as nonplussed as Fes in a foodbank.

At one point he picked up and walked two metres towards Glasgow's line before handing the ball to a somewhat perplexed Al 1 Price.

I'm not convinced he has the explosive speed over the first five yards to be as good an 8 as Batman; who in turn is not as good at 6 as he is at 8.

Naka 6, Batman 8, Simone 7. For my money. Mind you young Arthur Ashe is well on his way to making the 8 shirt his.