Connacht are the only one of the provinces in action tonight as they bid to end a seven-match losing streak against Glasgow Warriors who, themselves, are smarting from last weekend’s first round defeat by the Scarlets.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, September 11
GLASGOW WARRIORS (9th) v CONNACHT (4th), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Scotland)
Team News: Ahead of the GUINNESS PRO12 round 2 clash with Glasgow Warriors, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made one change to the team that defeated the Newport Gwent Dragons last Friday.
Scrum half John Cooney will start in the number 9 jersey against the defending champions, while Kieran Marmion, who was absent from training sessions this week while he recovered from a minor hip injury, is named on the replacements bench.
Up front, captain John Muldoon will line out for his 250th game with his home province and is joined in the back row by Nepia Fox-Matamua, a try scorer against the Dragons in the opening round, and Academy graduate Eoghan Masterson.
Ultan Dillane has been added to the bench in place of the injured Eoin McKeon, with Ben Marshall now covering the back row as well as lock.
Commenting on the team selection and the trip to Scotstoun, Lam said: “We understand the enormity of the challenge we have before us against a well-coached Glasgow side stacked full of quality players. We have yet to win at Scotstoun and we’re playing the defending champions who will be fired up after last week’s defeat (to the Scarlets).
“But our focus for the growth of our young squad is to compete and perform in challenges like this. We have trained well this week and we know only performing as a collective will give us a chance.”
Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors boss Gregor Townsend has handed a competitive debut to winger Junior Bulumakau for the visit of Connacht. The 24-year-old, who played for Belfast Harlequins during the 2014/15 Ulster Bank League, joined the Scottish club last month and scored against both Clermont and Canada during pre-season.
He comes into the team for the injured Rory Hughes, and will play on the right wing with Lee Jones moving to the opposite side. Glenn Bryce once again starts at full-back, with Peter Murchie and Fraser Lyle forming the centre partnership. Rory Clegg and Mike Blair make their first starts for the club at out-half and scrum half respectively.
After coming on as a second half replacement against the Scarlets, Alex Allan starts the game at loosehead prop, Pat MacArthur returns from illness at hooker and Mike Cusack is once again named at tighthead.
After an impressive debut last weekend, Scott Cummings continues in the second row where he partners Kieran Low, who makes his first start for the club after featuring off the bench in the defeat to Scarlets.
Rob Harley moves to blindside flanker in place of Josh Strauss, with Adam Ashe and Chris Fusaro continuing at number 8 and openside respectively. Back rower Hugh Blake has been named among the replacements and could make his first appearance in a Warriors shirt.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Glenn Bryce; Junior Bulumakau, Peter Murchie (capt), Fraser Lyle, Lee Jones; Rory Clegg, Mike Blair; Alex Allan, Pat MacArthur, Mike Cusack, Scott Cummings, Kieran Low, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe.
Replacements: Kevin Bryce, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, James Eddie, Tyrone Holmes, Hugh Blake, Grayson Hart, Scott Wight.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Danie Poolman, Rory Parata, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, John Muldoon (capt), Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Ben Marshall, Kieran Marmion, Craig Ronaldson, Fionn Carr.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Mike Adamson (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/11; Draw: 16/1; Connacht to win: 21/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Tom McCartney (Connacht) – “We’re expecting a bounce back from a fired-up Glasgow side who won’t be happy with their own result last week. I thought their opponents, the Scarlets, were outstanding – they really disrupted them, especially at the breakdown.
“I’ve never played up there (at Scotstoun) so I’m looking forward to it. Everyone will be well up for it against the defending champs. But we’ve just got to go back to our processes. I know it sounds a bit boring but that’s what you’ve got to do to get through games and build scores to win.
“There were frustrations (with our performance against the Dragons) but the main thing was to get the win and to do that was very pleasing. To see Fionn (Carr) sprinting away to score the last try was great…I was a bit buggered way back on the halfway line!
“Overall I think our forward pack was quite strong. We started off really well and altogether we won 17 of 19 lineouts. So we just need to tidy up some of the detail there. I felt we got a couple of good shoves on them early with the scrum as well.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “We were disappointed to lose our opening game against the Scarlets, but the effort in the second half last week was really encouraging and much more what we expect from our players.
“For those selected to play Connacht, it’s an opportunity to put what we’ve learned last week and what we’ve been working on in training this week into a much-improved performance.
“Connacht are a very good side who have a strong set piece and come into this game off the back of a win against the Dragons last weekend. Our two opening fixtures were always going to be tough and we know we’ll have to perform very well to win on Friday night.
“Our supporters created a fantastic atmosphere last Saturday and we’re looking forward to playing in front of them once again.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Glasgow Warriors – Points: Mike Cusack, Glenn Bryce 5 each; Tries: Mike Cusack, Glenn Bryce 1 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 14; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Danie Poolman, Fionn Carr 1 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 21, 2012 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Connacht 17, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, May 3, 2013 – Connacht 3 Glasgow Warriors 20, the Sportsground
Saturday, November 2, 2013 – Connacht 12 Glasgow Warriors 19, the Sportsground
Sunday, February 9, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 8 Connacht 6, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, September 26, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, April 25, 2015 – Connacht 13 Glasgow Warriors 31, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Glasgow Warriors’ 20-match winning run at Scotstoun Stadium in the GUINNESS PRO12 was ended by the Scarlets last Saturday. They have not lost successive home games in the competition since November 2013
– Connacht beat the Dragons 29-23 last Friday and have not won back-to-back league games since
March
– Connacht’s only wins in Scotland since September 2010 have both been against Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield
– Glasgow have won their last seven matches against Connacht with the most recent Irish success being 37-8 in Galway in February 2011
– The Warriors have not lost at home to Connacht since September 2010 at Firhill
This website uses cookies.
Read More