Keen to continue their winning run through to the end of the Six Nations, Leinster pitch up at Scotstoun Stadium tonight aiming for only their second ever regular season’s double over Glasgow Warriors.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, March 18
GLASGOW WARRIORS (7th) v LEINSTER (2nd), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: This round 9 fixture was originally fixed for early December but a waterlogged pitch in Scotstoun led to a postponement only hours before kick-off.
There are eight changes to the Leinster side that accounted for the Ospreys last time out, with a welcome return from injury for Ireland international Dave Kearney while Academy back Joey Carbery is in line to make his debut from the bench.
Zane Kirchner lines out at full-back for his 12th start of the season, with Isa Nacewa captaining the province from the right wing and Kearney coming onto the left for his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in Ireland’s recent Six Nations clash against France.
In the centre, Leo Cullen has again gone with Ben Te’o and Garry Ringrose, while in the half-backs Luke McGrath and Cathal Marsh will start at nine and ten respectively.
In the pack it is a new front row combination with Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Tadhg Furlong packing down. Locks Mick Kearney and Hayden Triggs start together for only the second time this season.
Dominic Ryan starts at blindside flanker having won his 100th Leinster cap last time out against the Ospreys, with the try scorer from that same game, Dan Leavy, and Jordi Murphy completing the pack.
Among the replacements, Clontarf out-half Joey Carbery is in line to make his first appearance for the senior team having played for the Leinster ‘A’ team last weekend against London Welsh, scoring 14 points with the boot.
Leinster Rugby have also announced that 35,000 tickets have now been sold for the April 2 derby against Munster at the Aviva Stadium. Tickets for the interprovincial encounter are still available at leinsterrugby.ie/tickets.
Meanwhile, Rory Clegg has been named in the Glasgow Warriors team to play Leinster at a sold-out Scotstoun, while back rowers Adam Ashe and Tyrone Holmes both return from injury.
Out-half Clegg has rejoined the Warriors on a deal until May 2017 and following five months with French Top 14 side Oyonnax, goes straight into the starting line-up to make his first appearance for the club since facing Leinster at the RDS last October.
Ashe starts at number 8 after recovering from a shoulder injury, while Holmes is named amongst the replacements following a three-month spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
Peter Murchie retains his place at full-back, with Lee Jones and Rory Hughes continuing on the wings. Mark Bennett once again wears the number 13 jersey, with Sam Johnson coming in for Alex Dunbar at inside centre.
Clegg starts at stand-off, with Duncan Weir away with Scotland, while Grayson Hart replaces Henry Pyrgos at scrum half.
In the pack Gordon Reid and Fraser Brown start at loosehead prop and at hooker respectively, with Sila Puafisi – the scorer of two tries against Munster recently – coming in for Zander Fagerson at tighthead.
Leone Nakarawa moves from number 8 back into the engine room to partner USA international Greg Peterson. James Eddie takes over from Rob Harley at blindside flanker, Simone Favaro replaces Chris Fusaro at openside and Ashe completes the back row.
BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 centre Nick Grigg could make his debut for Townsend’s charges as a replacement.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Peter Murchie (capt); Lee Jones, Mark Bennett, Sam Johnson, Rory Hughes; Rory Clegg, Grayson Hart; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Sila Puafisi, Greg Peterson, Leone Nakarawa, James Eddie, Simone Favaro, Adam Ashe.
Replacements: James Malcolm, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Tyrone Holmes, Ali Price, Nick Grigg, Glenn Bryce.
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Isa Nacewa (capt), Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Dave Kearney; Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Mick Kearney, Hayden Triggs, Dominic Ryan, Dan Leavy, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Peadar Timmins, Isaac Boss, Joey Carbery, Noel Reid.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Lloyd Linton, Mike Adamson (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/7; Draw: 18/1; Leinster to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Luke McGrath (Leinster) – “When you have a weekend off and you watch the Six Nations games, it just makes you hungrier to get back into it. We’ve a huge opportunity this week against Glasgow to go top.
“It’s going to be a difficult game over there. Last year they came out of the blocks much quicker than us and it was a tough day at the office, so it’s very important to get the quick start over there.
“The last four league matches we’ve got 18 out of 20 points, so it’s a good place to be at the moment. It’s been good – I’ve been playing anyway, which is a good sign. There’s always bits and pieces to improve each game and I’ve been working hard on that.
“But four wins, you’ve got to be happy with that. Personally I’ve been happy but there’s definitely things I can improve on.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “We’re really looking forward to facing Leinster at a sold-out Scotstoun on Friday night. We’ve had some great battles with them over the years and they have being playing well during the Six Nations window.
“They have always set very high standards and continue to deliver a high level of performance, whichever team they put out on the field.
“We’re delighted to welcome Rory (Clegg) back to the club and he goes straight into the side with Finn (Russell), Duncan (Weir) and Peter (Horne) away with Scotland and Gregor (Hunter) out injured.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Duncan Weir 77; Tries: Taqele Naiyaravoro 4; Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 72; Tries: Isa Nacewa 7
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 20, 2013 – Glasgow Warriors 12 Leinster 6, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Leinster 28 Glasgow Warriors 25, the RDS
Saturday, May 31, 2014 – Final – Leinster 34 Glasgow Warriors 12, the RDS
Saturday, September 6, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 22 Leinster 20, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, March 27, 2015 – Leinster 34 Glasgow Warriors 34, the RDS
Friday, October 23, 2015 – Leinster 23 Glasgow Warriors, 18, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Glasgow Warriors have lost just one of their last six first team fixtures: 13-10 away at Ulster on February 12
– The Warriors’ only defeat at Scotstoun since September was 26-15 to Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup on November 21
– Leinster have lost just once in the GUINNESS PRO12 since round 4: 23-13 to the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on January 29
– The Leinstermen’s only defeat to Scottish opponents in their last five such encounters was 16-9 to Edinburgh at Meggetland in round 1 this season
– Leinster won 23-18 at the RDS in round 5 and have achieved a regular season’s double over the Warriors only once since the 2005/06 season – in 2012/13
– Leinster’s only previous victory at Scotstoun was 6-0 in November 2012 (that was also the only time that the Warriors have been ‘nilled’ at home)
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