Munster will win Pool 1 with a game to go if they can triumph at Scotstoun Stadium this evening. Having missed out on the Champions Cup knockout stages in the past two seasons, it would be a major step forward for the province.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Saturday, January 14
GLASGOW WARRIORS (2nd) v MUNSTER (1st), Scotstoun Stadium, 5.30pm (live Sky Sports 2 HD/beIN Sports/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made four changes to the team that defeated Racing 92 in last weekend’s 32-7 bonus point win, with three in the pack and one in the back-line.
In the front row, loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne starts this week with the in-form Niall Scannell, one of the province’s try scorers in Paris, and John Ryan continuing at hooker and tighthead respectively.
Behind them sees Donnacha Ryan switch sides in the second row with the Tipperary lock joined by powerful South African Jean Kleyn, who has overcome last week’s illness to make his first European start for Munster.
Jack O’Donoghue takes the place of the injured Tommy O’Donnell in the back row as captain Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander continue at blindside flanker and number 8 respectively.
Conor Murray and Tyler Bleyendaal are again the half-back pairing, with no change to the midfield partnership of Rory Scannell and Jaco Taute. The final changes sees Keith Earls start on the left wing, joining two of last week’s try scorers, Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo, in the back-three.
O’Donnell, who sustained an ankle sprain against Racing 92, will continue to be observed by the medical team, however it is hoped the injury will only require a short-term rehab.
Fellow back rower Robin Copeland was not available for selection this week after sustaining a thumb injury against Doncaster Knights in the British & Irish Cup last Saturday. He will undergo surgery next week and is expected to be ruled out for six to seven weeks.
It has also been confirmed that centre Sam Arnold, who sustained a knee injury in the same Munster ‘A’ fixture, will be sidelined for approximately eight weeks.
Meanwhile, having been rested for last week’s PRO12 victory over Cardiff Blues, Stuart Hogg returns to the Glasgow Warriors team at full-back.
Fresh from signing a new deal with the club, Tommy Seymour starts on the right wing after his man-of-the-match performance against the Welsh side last Saturday, Lee Jones is named on the other wing. Alex Dunbar and Mark Bennett continue their partnership in midfield, as do Ali Price and Finn Russell in the half-back positions.
In the front row, Fraser Brown and Zander Fagerson are recalled to the starting line-up, linking up with loosehead Gordon Reid. Tim Swinson is another player to have pledged his future to the club this week and he joins captain Jonny Gray in the middle of the pack.
Rob Harley starts at blindside flanker, joining Ryan Wilson at openside and Josh Strauss at number 8 to complete Gregor Townsend’s run-on selection.
On the bench there are potential European debuts for D’arcy Rae and Matt Fagerson up front. Centurions Pat MacArthur, Chris Fusaro and Peter Murchie will look to bring their experience to proceedings should they come on and they are joined among the replacements by Nick Grigg and Scotland Internationals Alex Allan and Grayson Hart.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Lee Jones; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray (capt), Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson, Josh Strauss.
Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Alex Allan, D’arcy Rae, Matt Fagerson, Chris Fusaro, Grayson Hart, Nick Grigg, Peter Murchie.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Thomas du Toit, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Francis Saili.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley, Wayne Falla (both England)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 5/6; Draw: 17/1; Munster to win: 11/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Jack O’Donoghue (Munster) – “The last time we came up against Glasgow in the PRO12 we only narrowly nudged it with Ian Keatley’s late drop goal. They will be fully loaded for this one too though, this will be a totally different game and it will be a real tough encounter.
“That day in Scotstoun I played number 8 and it was very much an end-to-end game. It’s a high speed pitch and the metres clocked up in that game were a record for the season at that stage. It was tough on the lungs, and any time you go over to a 4G pitch you have to expect a fast game.
“We spent some time on a similar surface here in UL this week, but you can be certain they’ll run plenty at us. Their back-three are lightning quick, and at 10 Finn Russell is a great player too. They have a real go at you, but are well able to take you on up front when they have to.
“And we’re expecting Scotstoun to lay on a pretty hostile environment for us (on Saturday). For a game like this, with so much up for grabs, you have to expect a lively reception. In European rugby the crowd can be the 16th man for you, but we’ll be ready for whatever comes our way.
“There is a realisation in the camp that this will be our toughest game to date this season. There is so much on the line for both teams. They were the 2015 PRO12 champions and we know exactly how good they can be when they are on their game.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “It’s great to be involved in such a key European game and our players are looking forward to the match. We’ve built up some good momentum over the past few weeks, but Munster are also in a rich vein of form so we are going to have to deliver a big performance to get a win on Saturday.
“They work hard as a team, whether it’s in the set piece in defence or on kick chase so the Scotstoun crowd will need to be even louder than they were last weekend to drive our players throughout the contest.
“It is exciting for D’arcy (Rae) and Matt (Fagerson) to be involved in their first European fixture. D’arcy has started the last two matches and played really well and we’re seeing him improve every time he plays.
“It is Matt’s first year in the Academy and he has made a lot of progress in a short period of time. He is aggressive and dynamic, and I’m certain he’ll take the game to the opposition should he come on.”
Current Form – Glasgow Warriors – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 41-5 v Connacht (away), Won 33-25 v Leinster (home), Lost 23-19 v Cardiff Blues (away), Lost 22-17 v Ulster (home), Won 26-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), Won 33-28 v Zebre (away); (Champions Cup): Won 42-13 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 38-17 v Munster (away); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 31-14 v Benetton Treviso (home), Lost 27-3 v Scarlets (away), Lost 22-5 v Ospreys (home), Lost 16-15 v Munster (home); (Champions Cup): Won 23-14 v Racing 92 (away), Won 23-7 v Racing 92 (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 25-12 v Edinburgh (away), Won 35-28 v Benetton Treviso (away), Won 29-15 v Cardiff Blues (home)
Munster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 23-13 v Scarlets (away), Lost 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), Won 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), Won 49-5 v Zebre (home), Lost 35-14 v Leinster (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 15-14 v Ulster (away), Won 33-0 v Ospreys (home), Won 46-3 v Benetton Treviso (home), Won 16-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-0 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 18-16 v Leicester Tigers (away); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-17 v Leinster (home), Won 16-9 v Connacht (away); (Champions Cup): Won 32-7 v Racing 92 (away)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Finn Russell 38; Tries: Leonardo Sarto, Mark Bennett, Fraser Brown, Ali Price 2 each; Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 57; Tries: Jaco Taute, Simon Zebo 3 each
Previous European Meetings: 1
Saturday, October 22, 2016 – Pool 1 – Munster 38 Glasgow Warriors 17, Thomond Park
Match Facts –
– After back-to-back wins over Racing 92 in rounds 3 and 4, Glasgow Warriors are on track for a third consecutive tournament victory for just the second time in their history (2011)
– Munster have won four of their five previous games against Scottish opposition in the Champions Cup, although they did lose on their last trip to Scotland (versus Edinburgh 2013)
– If Munster manage to win at Scotstoun, they will book a place in the quarter-finals
– Glasgow have scored 130 points in their last four home games in Europe’s top tier competition, winning all four and conceding just 31 in reply
– Two-time champions Munster have conceded just 42 points this season, fewer than any other side. They are also the only team to have conceded less than one try per game on average (three in four games)
– Mark Bennett has averaged 14.9 metres per carry, the best average gain of any player to make at least 10 carries
– CJ Stander has made 15 more carries (69) than any other player this season, and he is one of 12 players to play every minute of the opening four rounds
– Munster and Ireland scrum half Conor Murray has five try assists, making him joint-top of that category with Connacht out-half Jack Carty
– Glasgow have this season’s two leading tacklers in Jonny Gray (62/64) and Ryan Wilson (49/58)
– Munster have averaged more turnovers won per game (10) than any other side in the campaign
– Glasgow however have conceded the joint fewest turnovers of any side on average (11 per game)
European Cup Records:
Glasgow Warriors –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1997/98: Reached the quarter-final play-offs
Munster –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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