Glasgow Warriors will host Connacht at Scotstoun in a mid-table match-up this evening, with Pat Lam’s men aiming to enter the top half of the table following wins in their last four GUINNESS PRO12 games.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, March 25
GLASGOW WARRIORS (6th) v CONNACHT (7th), Scotstoun Stadium, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 2 HD)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his team to face Glasgow Warriors in the GUINNESS PRO12 at Scotstoun Stadium today.
There are 10 changes to the side that was selected to play Zebre in the last round three weeks ago. Ireland internationals Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion return to take their places in the back-line with Jack Carty restored at out-half.
Goal-kicking centre Craig Ronaldson partners Bundee Aki in midfield, while Niyi Adeolokun and Stacey Ili, who is set for his 12th provincial appearance, continue on the wings.
Up front, Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham pack down in the front row with hooker Tom McCartney. The second row partnership is made up of Quinn Roux and Andrew Browne, the Galway man reaching 150 caps for his native province. Sean O’Brien, Jake Heenan and captain John Muldoon all return to the back row.
From the bench, Ireland Sevens international Josh Rowland (pictured below) is in line to make his senior debut for Connacht having recovered from a long-term ankle injury.
Commenting on the westerners’ clash with Glasgow, Lam said: “We’re hugely excited to be back playing this weekend and in such a big game with vital points needed by both teams.
“All our games with Glasgow are challenging, particularly in Scotstoun where we have never won. But that chance to create a bit of history just adds to the excitement for us.
“We know there is little room for error as we look towards the business end of the season, but all we can do is focus on the next job at hand and our performance (tomorrow).”
Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors boss Gregor Townsend has been boosted by the return of a number of Scotland internationals as the PRO12 returns to Scotstoun with the visit of defending champions Connacht.
Fresh from being named RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship, Stuart Hogg starts at full-back, hoping to continue his international form on the domestic stage. He is joined in the back-three by centurion Sean Lamont who lines up on the right wing, with Rory Hughes on the opposite side.
Peter Horne captains the Warriors for the second game in a row, alongside his centre partner Nick Grigg, who scored two tries against the Newport Gwent Dragons earlier this month. The Scotland half-back pairing reunite in Warriors jerseys with Ali Price and Finn Russell both starting.
In the front row Alex Allan and Sila Puafisi pack down either side of All Black Corey Flynn. Tim Swinson and Brian Alainu’uese continue their partnership in the second-row, both having impressed in Glasgow’s last outing – a seven-try 47-17 home victory over the Dragons.
Matt Smith will make his home debut at openside flanker and he is joined by Rob Harley and Adam Ashe in the back row, with Harley set to make the second highest number of appearances of any player in a Glasgow shirt.
Warriors fans could witness the Horne brothers playing together for Glasgow for the first time with scrum half George named among the replacements. Fraser Brown and Gordon Reid return from international duty to cover the front row and are joined on the bench by their Scotland team-mate Alex Dunbar.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg; Sean Lamont, Nick Grigg, Peter Horne (capt), Rory Hughes; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Alex Allan, Corey Flynn, Sila Puafisi, Tim Swinson, Brian Alainu’uese, Rob Harley, Matt Smith, Adam Ashe.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, D’arcy Rae, Scott Cummings, Lewis Wynne, George Horne, Alex Dunbar, Peter Murchie.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Stacey Ili; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Sean O’Brien, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, James Cannon, Naulia Dawai, John Cooney, Tom Farrell, Josh Rowland.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 2/7; Draw: 22/1; Connacht to win: 11/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht) – “There is a real positive feeling around the place. And there are lots of important games coming up. We are away from home for three weeks in a row in the PRO12, but they are games we have to be targeting because we want to be finishing in the top six at the bare minimum.
“It’s all on a game-by-game basis at the moment. We are all focused on going over to Glasgow and hopefully picking up a win there. They are in the top six but they need a win as well to climb back up the table, so it’s important for both teams.
“There is no chance of us giving up if we don’t win this week – we have to keep plugging away. But we are focused on taking care of this game first. This game is on the 4G surface and that’s something which suits our style of rugby. Hopefully we can get a dry day for a good game.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us, but we have a lot of lads back from injury now and we are close to a clean bill of health. That will help us going forward, because for a few months there Pat was struggling to get numbers out on the pitch for training.
“There is so much competition here right now so it was nice to have the week we had. Our strong finish to last season ties in with the grounds firming up as well as the weather getting better.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “It’s great to welcome so many of our Test players back into our squad, who have all played a part in what was a successful Six Nations tournament for Scotland. They have brought energy and enthusiasm to the group and added quality to our preparations this week.
“Connacht are a side we respect greatly, from their positive approach to the game and also how hard they work for each other. It should be a cracking game at Scotstoun.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Finn Russell 48; Tries: Tommy Seymour 8; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 70; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 5
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Glasgow Warriors – Played 17, Won 9, Lost 8, 46 Points; W 41-5 v Connacht (away), W 33-25 v Leinster (home), L 23-19 v Cardiff Blues (away), L 22-17 v Ulster (home), W 26-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 33-28 v Zebre (away), W 31-14 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 27-3 v Scarlets (away), L 22-5 v Ospreys (home), L 16-15 v Munster (home), W 25-12 v Edinburgh (away), W 35-28 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 29-15 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 26-14 v Scarlets (home), L 37-17 v Ulster (away), L 26-15 v Ospreys (away), W 47-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home); Connacht – Played 16, Won 8, Lost 8, 39 Points; L 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 32-11 v Ospreys (home), L 17-8 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Edinburgh (home), W 30-25 v Ulster (home), L 24-13 v Leinster (away), L 21-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 18-7 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 47-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 23-7 v Ulster (away), L 16-9 v Munster (home), L 29-7 v Ospreys (away), W 19-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 14-9 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 34-19 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 33-3 v Zebre (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 26, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, April 25, 2015 – Connacht 13 Glasgow Warriors 31, the Sportsground
Friday, September 11, 2015 – Glasgow Warriors 33 Connacht 32, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Connacht 14 Glasgow Warriors 7, the Sportsground
Saturday, May 21, 2016 – Semi-final – Connacht 16 Glasgow Warriors 11, the Sportsground
Saturday, September 3, 2016 – Connacht 5 Glasgow Warriors 41, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Glasgow Warriors’ 47-17 victory at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 17 ended a three-match losing run in the GUINNESS PRO12
– The Warriors’ home record in the PRO12 this season is an even won four, lost four
– Connacht have won their last four PRO12 matches, the last two with maximum points
– Connacht have lost only one of their last six matches against Scottish opponents: 41-5 at home to Glasgow in round 1 this season
– Connacht have won only one of their last eleven encounters with Warriors in the regular season of the PRO12: 14-7 in Galway last May, while the province’s only victory on Glasgow soil since 2003 came at Firhill in September 2010
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