Ulster visit one of the toughest away venues in the GUINNESS PRO12 tonight as they try to post their fourth straight victory and remain unbeaten for the month of September.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, September 23
GLASGOW WARRIORS (4th) v ULSTER (2nd), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss has made a total of nine personnel and positional changes as Ulster hope to maintain their unbeaten run of three wins from the opening three games.
Returning Ireland international Jared Payne will make his first appearance of the season, starting at full-back in a back-three that sees Charles Piutau move to the left wing with Louis Ludik on the right.
Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson, who have both already picked up man-of-the-match awards in the opening three rounds, are retained at half-back, while Stuart McCloskey will be joined in the midfield by Darren Cave.
Rob Herring will captain the side from hooker and will be joined in the front row by Andrew Warwick and Rodney Ah You. Franco van der Merwe comes in to join Alan O’Connor in the second row.
Following a try-scoring second half appearance in last week’s home victory over the Scarlets, Iain Henderson will start against Glasgow and will be partnered in the back row by Sean Reidy and Roger Wilson.
Ireland captain Rory Best will hope to make his first appearance of the season as he makes up a strong looking list of replacements alongside fellow forwards Callum Black, Ross Kane, Peter Browne and Clive Ross. Paul Marshall, Stuart Olding and Robert Lyttle will cover the back-line from the bench.
Meanwhile, Scotland out-half Finn Russell will make his return from injury for Glasgow Warriors in Friday’s sold-out encounter with Ulster.
Russell, who has not featured for the Warriors since last season’s semi-final defeat to Connacht, will wear the number 10 jersey on his 24th Birthday.
BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy stage 3 player Lewis Wynne will make his first start and fourth appearance for the Warriors lining up at openside flanker. Namibian international Tjiuee Uanivi will also make his first start on his third competitive appearance for the club.
On the bench, 18-year-old back rower Matt Fagerson, brother of Zander, and 22-year-old lock Sam Thomson could both feature for the first time.
Stuart Hogg once again lines up at full-back, with Italy international Leonardo Sarto returning to the side and taking his place on the right wing. The in-form Tommy Seymour completes the back-three.
Mark Bennett comes back into the Warriors’ midfield after appearing as a replacement against Cardiff Blues last weekend and he iwill partner the returning Alex Dunbar, who was rested last week.
Scrum half and co-captain Henry Pyrgos also returns from injury and forms a new half-back partnership with Russell. It is the same front row which started in Cardiff with Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown and Zander Fagerson all combining.
Co-captain Jonny Gray partners USA international Greg Peterson in the engine room. In the back row Ryan Wilson switches to number 8, with Uanivi coming in at blindside flanker and Wynne wearing the number 7 shirt.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg; Leonardo Sarto, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos (co-capt); Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Greg Peterson, Jonny Gray (co-capt), Tjiuee Uanivi, Lewis Wynne, Ryan Wilson.
Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Alex Allan, Sila Puafisi, Sam Thomson, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Nick Grigg, Rory Hughes.
ULSTER: Jared Payne; Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Charles Piutau; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring (capt), Rodney Ah You, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rory Best, Callum Black, Ross Kane, Peter Browne, Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Stuart Olding, Roert Lyttle.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Cammy Rudkin (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/7; Draw: 20/1; Ulster to win: 7/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Louis Ludik (Ulster) – “We know how tough Glasgow is. I’ve never won there, my first season we lost there twice, it’s very tough. They’re outstanding and they’ll be hurting a bit from last week, losing to Cardiff.
“It’s going to be very tough but we just have to throw everything at them. We usually do well in the beginning but fall off but we just have to stick to our game.
“We have to play to our strengths but then put them under a lot of pressure and that’s what we have to do. Glasgow have a really dangerous back-three. They’re in good form and they’re always difficult to play against, so you have to play accordingly. We have to watch for aimless kicks, it’s those basics we need to do well.
“I enjoy playing on artificial pitches but it does suit their game with their offloading. They like to push the tempo so it’s going to be tough but we enjoy it, it suits us too.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “Ulster are a quality team and have recruited very well this season. We know it’ll be a tough test but it’s a game we’re all really looking forward to.
“It’s a boost to have Finn Russell back from injury. He’s been really positive since his return to training and played well for Ayr in the BT Premiership last weekend.
“Friday will be a special occasion for Lewis Wynne and Tjiuee Uanivi, who will make their first starts, and also for Matt Fagerson and Sam Thomson who could make their debuts from the bench.
“Lewis is learning every week and is working hard for the team and deserves his starting place. We’re also looking forward to seeing Tjiuee starting after some impressive appearances off the bench. For Matt and Sam, it’s a big opportunity to go out and take the game to Ulster.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Tommy Seymour 30; Tries: Tommy Seymour 6; Ulster – Points: Ruan Pienaar 21; Tries: Rob Herring, Ruan Pienaar, Robert Lyttle 2 each
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Glasgow Warriors – Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, 11 Points; W 41-5 v Connacht (away), W 33-25 v Leinster (home), L 23-19 v Cardiff Blues (away); Ulster – Played 3, Won 3, 13 Points; W 29-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 22-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 19-8 v Scarlets (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Friday, March 25, 2016 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Ulster 17, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Glasgow Warriors have won their last nine home games at Scotstoun Stadium in the GUINNESS PRO12 since the Scarlets won there in the opening round last season
– This represents their only defeat at the venue in the league since November 2013
– Ulster’s only loss in their last eight PRO12 encounters came in last season’s semi-final to Leinster at the RDS
– The Ulstermen have not lost a regular season away game in the league since they last visited Scotstoun on March 25
– The Warriors have lost just one of their last four fixtures with Ulster: 13-10 in Belfast last February, while Ulster’s most recent victory in Glasgow in the PRO12 was at Firhill in March 2011
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