Ulster are chasing their first GUINNESS PRO12 season’s double over Glasgow Warriors since 2010/11, as they face one of their biggest play-off rivals at Scotstoun Stadium tonight.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, March 25
GLASGOW WARRIORS (6th) v ULSTER (4th), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss has made five changes to the team that faced Zebre three weeks ago. Captain Rob Herring is joined in the front row by Callum Black, who replaces Kyle McCall at loosehead prop, and Ricky Lutton is named at tighthead.
Alan O’Connor is among those who utilised the break to return from injury – he replaces Peter Browne in the second row, partnering Franco van der Merwe. Iain Henderson returns to the starting line-up having been out since December with a hamstring injury. He is joined in the back row by Chris Henry and Nick Williams.
Paddy Jackson will make his 100th appearance for the province tonight and continues his half-back partnership with Ruan Pienaar.
Positional switches result in a new-look backline, with Stuart Olding moving from the centre to full-back and Craig Gilroy returning to the right wing. Rory Scholes moves to the left flank in place of Jacob Stockdale, who is on a down week following his involvement with the Ireland Under-20 Six Nations campaign.
Stuart McCloskey, who made his debut for Ireland against England during the Six Nations, replaces Olding at inside centre, and Luke Marshall completes the midfield axis.
Paul Marshall, Sam Windsor and Darren Cave will provide the back-line cover, while John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy are the forward replacements.
Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors boss Gregor Townsend has named 18 players who were involved with Scotland over the last couple of months, in the squad to face Ulster in front of a sell-out crowd at Scotstoun Stadium.
After being announced as the RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship, Stuart Hogg will start at full-back. Finn Russell has recovered from concussion to start and club captain Jonny Gray is also fit to make his 50th appearance for the club.
Tommy Seymour and Sean Lamont start on either wing, with a centre pairing of Mark Bennett and Alex Dunbar. Henry Pyrgos will operate at scrum half and Russell is named at stand-off.
Gordon Reid will pack down with Fraser Brown and Sila Puafisi in the front row, while Gray makes his first appearance since the win over Racing 92 in January, pairing up with Leone Nakarawa in the engine room.
Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro and Josh Strauss will feature together in the back row, with Strauss having started for Scotland against France in the recent Championship victory at BT Murrayfield.
Included on the bench is hooker James Malcolm following the announcement that he has signed a two-year professional contract with Glasgow.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Sean Lamont; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Sila Puafisi, Jonny Gray (capt), Leone Nakarawa, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss.
Replacements: James Malcolm, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Grayson Hart, Duncan Weir, Taqele Naiyaravoro.
ULSTER: Stuart Olding; Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Callum Black, Rob Herring (capt), Ricky Lutton, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Paul Marshall, Sam Windsor, Darren Cave.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Graeme Wells, Cammy Rudkin (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/9; Draw: 17/1; Ulster to win: 15/8
Pre-Match Quotes: Rob Herring (Ulster) – “It has been over three weeks now since we’ve played, so it’s a bit of an itch that everyone is dying to scratch. We can’t wait to get back out there and play some competitive rugby and put in a good performance on Friday night.
“Glasgow have a very good squad, not just their starting XV but their top 30 players are all pretty good and Gregor Townsend tends to mix them up, so you don’t really know who will be in the match squad. Whether they have the Scottish guys back or not, it is going to be a very tough match.
“Defensively they scramble really well and they are hard to breakdown – they fight hard for each other to protect their try line, so it will be tough to break them down, especially when we get into that 22-metre zone.
“In attack, their offload game is also an area for us to watch out for. They have some pretty exciting guys who can take offloads out of nowhere and make them look easy. They always have runners coming on to balls, they are dangerous from anywhere in the park, so that is something we will have to stop.
“This is a massive game for both teams, with an eight-point swing at stake. If we get the win on Friday night, immediately we are up there looking for a home play-off, but at the same time, it’s important to take it one game at a time. We are focused on Glasgow right now – a win will put us in a good position.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “Last Friday’s win over Leinster was an important victory for the club following a huge effort from all the players involved. Ulster have produced some high quality performances this season and are a top quality team.
“I’ve always admired their attack shape and they tend to bring out some very good set piece plays. They are also a very strong defensive side. We’ve had some tight games with them over the years and we’re expecting another tough battle tomorrow (Friday).
“We were proud of how our players performed and excelled for Scotland during the RBS 6 Nations and it’s a real boost to have them back with us for the run-in. Training has been of high quality this week and you can see the desire of everyone to earn their place in the team.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Duncan Weir 77; Tries: Taqele Naiyaravoro 4; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 76; Tries: Craig Gilroy 6
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 13, 2013 – Ulster 12 Glasgow Warriors 13, Ravenhill
Friday, April 18, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Ulster 9, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, October 11, 2014 – Ulster 29 Glasgow Warriors 9, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Glasgow Warriors 32 Ulster 10, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, May 22, 2015 – Semi-Final – Glasgow Warriors 16 Ulster 14, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, February 12, 2016 – Ulster 13 Glasgow Warriors 10, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Glasgow Warriors have won their last four GUINNESS PRO12 encounters since Ulster beat them 13-10 in Belfast on February 12
– The Warriors have not lost at Scotstoun Stadium in the PRO12 since round 1 when the Scarlets were the visitors
– Ulster’s 32-0 victory over Zebre in Belfast in round 17 of the PRO12 ended a two-match losing run
– The Ulstermen’s last five fixtures against Scottish opponents have all been won by the home side on the day
– Ulster beat Glasgow 13-10 in round 14 but have not achieved a PRO12 season’s double over the Scotsmen since 2010/11, while Ulster’s only previous victory at Scotstoun came in the European Champions Cup in October 2012
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