Glasgow V Montpellier - European Champions Cup Friday 8th December

Glasgow Warriors v Montpellier Herault
European Champions Cup
Scotstoun Stadium
Friday 8th December
ko 19.35
Live on Sky Sports


The first match of the double header with both sides still to register a win and Glasgow without even a bonus point.

Still the cause is not completely lost, certainly mathematically. The hopeful thing being that whoever loses this match, won't really have much of an interest in the return, as they will definitely be out. So a good chance that either side could then be sitting on two wins with everything still to play for.

Glasgow's domestic form seems to have counted for little in Europe, admittedly against Leinster and Exeter, both unsurprisingly, have been very good. The arrival of our Tongan prop and the return of Fraser Brown should add a bit of stability to the pack though and hopefully Big Brian will be fit again to take the bench spot. Against that Hoggy seems unlikely to be fit and it is not clear if Huw Jones will be given another week off before he starts to earn his corn for the Warriors.

Montpellier are fulfilling the usual French stereotype of not travelling well and have lost their last two away games quite poorly, admittedly to Racing and table topping La Rochelle. It remains to be seen how bothered they are about Europe this season, maybe just being willing to concentrate on a run at the Top 14 title.

Either way it is an intriguing game and one that I am hoping will keep Glasgow's interest in the competition going, for at least another week, so I can see a live game when I go down to Montpellier.

I hope Glasgow destroy these moneybags.

VinceWLB wrote:I hope Glasgow destroy these moneybags.

Don't hold back now, just say what you mean!

BigGee wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:I hope Glasgow destroy these moneybags.

Don't hold back now, just say what you mean!

Ha! They are even worse than Toulon 4-5 years ago, last season there was a game they only had like 1 French player in their starting 15.

Depends on whose available (Kebble, Brown and Hogg being fit would be huge boosts). I think Montpellier will have too much in the pack for us. I expect

Bhatti, Brown, Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Wilson, Gibbins, Vunisa
Price, Russell, Sarto, Johnson, Dunbar, Masaga, Jackson

Malcolm, Allan, Nuka, Brian, Wynne, Pyrgos (really should be G Horne), Horne, L Jones

I am almost ok with losing this one as I don't think we are going to win 4 on the trot, but most years the pro 12 requires 50-60 points from 22 games to make the top 6 and 70-75 to make the top 2. Glasgow have 48 from 10 games...

Hazel Sapling wrote:

I am almost ok with losing this one as I don't think we are going to win 4 on the trot, but most years the pro 12 requires 50-60 points from 22 games to make the top 6 and 70-75 to make the top 2. Glasgow have 48 from 10 games...

This year is very different though. It is almost impossible in any scenario short of a plane crash to see us not making the play offs already and really we should be winning the group and giving ourselves a very valuable week off at the end of the season before the semi finals.

Last year we had to put our knackered international players straight back into action after the 6N to chase the league and that plan flopped leaving us short in the league and in the 1/4 final against Sarries. The root cause of that was that we had already shipped to many points during the time that they were off playing for Scotland.

That is not the case this year and we have enough lee way now to rest and rotate sensibly, keeping everybody a bit fresher. If and it is a big if, we can come good in these last 4 euro games and still qualify, then we will be in a much better position than we were last year, even as seems almost certain, we would have to go away to play one of the big boys.

So in short, we are not out of it yet and there is everything still to play for.

BigGee wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:

I am almost ok with losing this one as I don't think we are going to win 4 on the trot, but most years the pro 12 requires 50-60 points from 22 games to make the top 6 and 70-75 to make the top 2. Glasgow have 48 from 10 games...

This year is very different though. It is almost impossible in any scenario short of a plane crash to see us not making the play offs already and really we should be winning the group and giving ourselves a very valuable week off at the end of the season before the semi finals.

Last year we had to put our knackered international players straight back into action after the 6N to chase the league and that plan flopped leaving us short in the league and in the 1/4 final against Sarries. The root cause of that was that we had already shipped to many points during the time that they were off playing for Scotland.

That is not the case this year and we have enough lee way now to rest and rotate sensibly, keeping everybody a bit fresher. If and it is a big if, we can come good in these last 4 euro games and still qualify, then we will be in a much better position than we were last year, even as seems almost certain, we would have to go away to play one of the big boys.

So in short, we are not out of it yet and there is everything still to play for.

Glasgow made a similar mistake and i said so at the time, why did they send their strongest side to the Cheetahs? I still think that had they kept their key players fresh they may have won in Exeter and then the Leinster game may have been different..

Glasgow will have to travel to Dublin.. I just don't see them going through this season, sadly.

[quote="VinceWLB"][quote="BigGee"]

Hazel Sapling wrote:



Glasgow will have to travel to Dublin.. I just don't see them going through this season, sadly.

We have certainly got it all to do and I would not be betting my mortgage on it happening. It was good to hear the coaches saying that they will give this game the full go as it is still possible, albeit difficult to qualify. We will know more on Friday.

I think you were right about the SA trip as well. The travelling to that game and then to Exeter (which was actually a pretty close game despite us getting nothing out of it) probably ended up costing us both the opening games. All part of the learning curve for DR I guess.

Think the quote function failed there. I certainly would back us against Leinster and Exeter. It is Montpellier who I worry about.

The one good thing in the event of a loss; we can prioritize the youngsters and there is a 2 week break for the Scotland guys going into the 6 nations. Ideally though we beat Montpellier with 4 tries and by a margin of over 7 points. Cotter then pulls back his best players for the return leg and the away game against Leinster becomes the key.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Depends on whose available (Kebble, Brown and Hogg being fit would be huge boosts). I think Montpellier will have too much in the pack for us. I expect

Bhatti, Brown, Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Wilson, Gibbins, Vunisa
Price, Russell, Sarto, Johnson, Dunbar, Masaga, Jackson

Malcolm, Allan, Nuka, Brian, Wynne, Pyrgos (really should be G Horne), Horne, L Jones

I am almost ok with losing this one as I don't think we are going to win 4 on the trot, but most years the pro 12 requires 50-60 points from 22 games to make the top 6 and 70-75 to make the top 2. Glasgow have 48 from 10 games...

You seem to have omitted a Mr H Jones ?

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:Depends on whose available (Kebble, Brown and Hogg being fit would be huge boosts). I think Montpellier will have too much in the pack for us. I expect

Bhatti, Brown, Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Wilson, Gibbins, Vunisa
Price, Russell, Sarto, Johnson, Dunbar, Masaga, Jackson

Malcolm, Allan, Nuka, Brian, Wynne, Pyrgos (really should be G Horne), Horne, L Jones

I am almost ok with losing this one as I don't think we are going to win 4 on the trot, but most years the pro 12 requires 50-60 points from 22 games to make the top 6 and 70-75 to make the top 2. Glasgow have 48 from 10 games...

You seem to have omitted a Mr H Jones ?

I was assuming they may give him a break but then again, he did not play Super Rugby and Currie Cup only started in August. If he is about, I would put Johnson on the bench.

There's also the option to start Jones at 15. Jackson to bench and move Jones to 13 if needed. Plenty flexibility there.

What Jones at FB ? H I assume ? Didn't know he could play 15

Huw Jones has, I believe played full back but why would you put him there when Jacko is playing so well and Jonsey is maybe the best current 13 in the world.

If he plays, as it was mentioned that he would be having a few weeks off, then it will surely be in the centre with Dunbar inside him and Horne on the bench.

If he is rested then it will surely be Horne at 12 and Dunbar at 13.

I am a big fan of Johnson and think his extra size/ability to tackle is huge against what is likely to be a larger Montpellier side. Horne has been playing well but I would prefer to go with Jackson as the back-up to Russell (style of play is similar) if H Jones is available. I don't think Rennie would though. H Jones is the key. Do they give him a break or not? If not, Price-Russell-Dunbar-Jones was the best set of backs in the Autumn (ok, little hyperbolic).

Jackson to me has become underrated as a 10. He improved down south with injuries stopping him finding a starting berth at Quins and getting more games at Wasps (also they realised just how good Gopperth is). He is finally healthy and has become excellent in his secondary position.

Sorry for confusion. I hot muddled about fb in summer games, and in a fit of seniorness last night, convinced myself that it was HJ that played there in the summer, and he wasn't even on the tour!!
Yes, of course we should have RJ at fb and if poss the Dunbar Jones combo in midfield.
For additional speed, we could play Seymour at 15?

Nah would still play Jacko at 15 rather than Seymour.

Seymour should be given the month of December off to get himself sorted. I would rather he get himself physically and mentally right when he is not overly needed (Masaga, Sarto, L Jones are all in great form) vs when he is for the 6 nations and the late season pushed.

Will Hogg be ready for next week? 3 weeks long enough for hip flexors?

Huw Jones was given a couple of weeks off after the AIs – I’m not sure if he’ll be brought straight back in for this, nor do I think Glasgow need to if Johnson and Dunbar are fit. Johnson in particular has been excellent lately, and is really solid in defence.

Could we see Huw Jones making his Glasgow debut in the inevitable loss against Edinburgh at Murrayfield??

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Could we see Huw Jones making his Glasgow debut in the inevitable loss against Edinburgh at Murrayfield??

Been having a liquid lunch today have we?


On a more serious note, I hope we do play Jones. As well as Johnson has been playing, Dunbar and Jones has got to be our best centre option and I think we will need that if we really want to win this game and keep our cup hopes alive.

Johnson and Dunbar are primarily 12s, though both are good enough to move a space out, neither has the outside break and ability to ride through tackles that Jonsey does (few do, let's face it).

As he missed the whole of the super rugby season, he won't be on his hands and knees just yet and there should be a chance to rest him up for a few games before the 6N. If we lose this game then the last three games in Europe will all mean nothing and we could easily end up being nilled, which would not be acceptable. Glasgow have much higher standards than that.

Interview with Huw Jones on the Offside Line.

It pretty much says that he will be making his debut for the Warriors on Friday night.

Can hardly wait!

VinceWLB wrote:

BigGee wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:I hope Glasgow destroy these moneybags.

Don't hold back now, just say what you mean!

Ha! They are even worse than Toulon 4-5 years ago, last season there was a game they only had like 1 French player in their starting 15.

They are a French 'club' side. I assume you have no problem with the number of 'Scots' in your national side? The 'Scottish' national side is a mixture of English and SH rejects.

You're on a bit of a tirade against the Scots today aren't you Cyril?

Of the 23 against Australia only 1 qualified on residency. The rest were capped mainly due to a humongous injury list, including our first 4 looseheads and 3 top centres.

As a nation with only 2 professional teams we have to cast our net far and wide to compete!

Glasgow bring Vanusa and McDonald into their euro cup squad in place of Swinson and Peterson.

Both of them have shown up well in the last two games and I can see Vanusa starting on Friday. McDonald may or may not bench depending on whether Big Brian is fit enough.

Peterson is obviously injured again after being away with the USA. He has not had much luck on the injury front and that may end up costing him at contract renewal time, especially with McDonald taking his chances very well.

How many "non english" in the england side? Quite a lot isn't there?

After a great start to the T14 Montpellier have stumbled to two consecutive defeats in the their last two domestic fixtures( including being beaten 26 nil by Racing). Cruden has been in and out of the side with injury and when he isn't playing Frans Stein is taking his slot leading to a significant change in the pace of their attack.
Their main problem is their first choice tight head has been absent through injury and they have been rely on a French giant, Guillamont, who is not a convincing scrummager.
As the grounds start to cut up their scrum is being pinged far too often to build consistent attacks. It will be interesting to see how they go in on the artificial pitch on Friday.

They won't be used to the plastic pitch, which may well be to our advantage, nor to the speed of the game that it can create.

Sounds like it is going to be pretty cold as well, which they might not like to much either.

Hard to gauge what kind of mood any French side is going to be in on its travels. It is going to be a tall order for them to qualify in any case, so what is going to be their motivation on a cold night in the north when they are a long way away from their home comforts.

I guess we will see on Friday night!

Weather could play a part. Forecast says snow later today into tomorrow and bitterly cold with a -4 wind chill. Perfect for Niko and Sarto to run riot !

Just remembered that Oyannax put in an artificial surface three years so Montpellier will have some experience of playing on the plastic fantastic. Oyannax is also situated near the Alps, so gets even nippier than the Weege in the depths of winter!

Glasgow Warriors:

15. Ruaridh Jackson; 14. Leonardo Sarto, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Samuel Johnson, 11. Tommy Seymour; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ali Price; 1. Jamie Bhatti, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Ryan Wilson, 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. Samu Vunisa

16. James Malcolm, 17. Alex Allan, 18. Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19. Kiran McDonald, 20. Matt Smith, 21. George Horne, 22. Peter Horne, 23. Niko Matawalu

Glasgow team out and pretty much as predicted except Johnson starting at 12 and no Dunbar in the squad. Is that a call or is he injured? The Jones boy makes his debut and Sarto and Seymour are the wings.

Turner is also fit to start and Malcolm will back him up. zander starts at TH with Siua coming on later in the game to add his considerable impact!

On the bench he has gone for Horne x 2 and Niko for his backs. So George seems to have elevated himself up the pecking order, which is probably a good call. It could be mayhem in the last 20 mins if we are chasing the game or chasing a BP. McDonald and Fusaro also bench, which given the injury situation is what we expected.

Probably about as good a team as we could put out.

Montpellier

15. Jesse Mogg; 14. Benjamin Fall, 13. Frans Steyn, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Nemani Nadolo; 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Enzo Sanga; 1. Mikheil Nariashvili, 2. Bismarck Du Plessis, 3. Johannes Jonker, 4. Nicholaas Van Rensburg, 5. Jacques Du Plessis, 6. Kelian Galletier, 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Louis Picamoles

16. Romain Ruffenach, 17. Grégory Fichten, 18. Mohamed Haouas, 19. Konstantine Mikautadze, 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21. Benoit Paillaugue, 22. Gabriel N'gandebe, 23. Henry Immelman

Nothing really surprising there, Gee.
Big Brian is obviously injured, he pulled out of last week's game after the team was announced iirc.
Fat Sam has looked good at 8. He seems to play with a Jerry Yanuyanutawa like smile on his boat race (pardon the lapse into Cockernee slang but it is The Varsity match today).
Sam Johnson for Eck Dunbar is not the shock that everyone seems to think: last year Toonie started Johnson for every Euro match if he was fit. It'll be interesting to see how it works out but I have a sneaky feeling that Jones the Try Scorer will prefer having a second five eighths at 12 rather than a battering ram. If you were defending against Jones you would be wary of his outside break and probably tend to stay on his outside shoulder; Sam Johnson, and Peter Horne in the later stages, will love having that space to attack.
Horne The Younger on the bench rather than Henners makes perfect sense if the reports of Montpellier's big pack running out of steam in the last quarter of recent games is accurate. If they do tire and we bring on Horne, Horne and MadMata it could be a cricket score. Not saying who for, just it could be a big score.
All I need now is a reliable stream, or John The Munster Fan next door to invite me in. I'd best tell him to do that.

p.s. The Warriors' FB page has Matt Smith rather than Fozzie on the bench. Anyone know what is going on? Here specifically not in life in general.

LondonTiger wrote:Montpellier

15. Jesse Mogg; 14. Benjamin Fall, 13. Frans Steyn, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Nemani Nadolo; 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Enzo Sanga; 1. Mikheil Nariashvili, 2. Bismarck Du Plessis, 3. Johannes Jonker, 4. Nicholaas Van Rensburg, 5. Jacques Du Plessis, 6. Kelian Galletier, 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Louis Picamoles

16. Romain Ruffenach, 17. Grégory Fichten, 18. Mohamed Haouas, 19. Konstantine Mikautadze, 20. Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21. Benoit Paillaugue, 22. Gabriel N'gandebe, 23. Henry Immelman

looks weak!

4 french in that starting XV. Joke.

the-goon wrote:4 french in that starting XV. Joke.

I’m sure I saw some teamsheets under the Jake White regime where there were only one or two Frenchmen.

Differing goals and financial firepower. Same as the football Premier League.

That Glasgow team has 5 NSQ out of 23 with 1 of those due to evolve into an SQ player and Vunisa is there due to injury.

Glasgow developed 14 of the 23 through their youth system which is another indicator of how good Glasgow are at bringing through youth.

Fecc fecc feccity fecc
The Half Man Half Mullet is broken.
Matt Smith starts and Fozzie benches.

That's a big loss. Batman will have to "put himself about a bit", as they say in Morningside.

What is the whether like in Glasgow tonight boys? Are we likely to see many trys or has it been snowing heavily there as well?

It looks freezing up there.

The benefit of having moved away many years ago means I can watch this at home with the heating on with a bottle of imported Belgian beer.

Utter madness by Turner, what was he doing. Lucky not to get red

So stupid from Turner. No need. Montpellier were going nowhere

Sarto has started well. Russell has made 2 silly decisions and made up with an excellent try and good place kicking.

Wilson fails to protect the side of the ruck. Montpellier's 6 gets a brace.

Turner's yellow has turned this match. Looking more stupid by the minute.

We were winning that game comfortably and one moment of idiocy from George Turner has completely changed it.

I can't believe it!

Rennie really needs to get Glasgow's heads back into this game at HT.

At the moment it is one way traffic, all self inflicted

What happened to Sam Johnson?
How big is Nadolo?
Crudden and Dancer putting on a masterclass of stand-off skills.

What a try. My neighbours are getting some colourful language tonight...

This game turned on that Turner yellow. This is a sad way to get eliminated.

How did we manage to Frak that up.