Connacht v Glasgow Saturday 2nd November 17.00

Rabo Direct Pro 12 Round 7
Connacht v Glasgow Saturday 2nd November 17.00

After a narrow defeat away to provincial rivals Leinster, Connacht will be hoping to build on some promising recent form at home to play-off chasing Glasgow. Glasgow will travel with high hopes of victory after a comfortable victory on their last visit to Galway and some promising early season form which was halted somewhat by a defeat at home to Munster last Friday. Connacht will know that another morale victory won't suffice here.

Glasgow Stats
Founded: 2000
Ground: Scotstoun
Capacity: 9,708
Captain: Alastair Kellock
Coach: Gregor Townsend

Rabo Direct Pro12 League Position 2013/14: 3rd P:6 Pts:21
2012/13: 3rd (Beaten 17-15 by Leinster in the semi-final) Regular Season Position 3rd Points:76
Heineken Cup: 4th in Pool 4 Points: 6


Recent Results
Glasgow 6 - 13 Munster (Rabo Direct Pro 12)
Glasgow 20 - 16 Exeter (Heineken Cup)
Toulon 51 - 28 Glasgow (Heineken Cup)

Next Fixture:
Friday 22nd November 2013 19.35 Glasgow v Dragons @ Scotstoun

Heineken Cup (Pool 2) (Current Standings)
Exeter 6
Toulon 6
Glasgow 5
Cardiff 5

Players In
Richie Vernon from Sale Sharks
Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby
Jerry Yanuyanutawa from London Irish
Gabriel Ascárate from US Carcassonne
Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Warriors

Players Out
John Barclay to Scarlets
Nick Campbell to Jersey
Ofa Fainga'anuku to Worcester Warriors
Taylor Paris to Agen
Graeme Morrison retired
Rory Lamont retired

Previous Meetings

Friday 3rd May Rabo Direct Pro 12: Connacht 3-20 Glasgow

www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/12345.php

Friday 21st September Rabo Direct Pro 12: Glasgow 27-17 Connacht

www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/2224.php

Dougie Hall will make his 150th league appearance tomorrow night when he starts for Glasgow Warriors away to Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12.Dougie Hall

The experienced hooker replaces Pat MacArthur for the trip to Galway.

Niko Matawalu comes in for Sean Maitland at full-back, while Byron McGuigan and DTH van der Merwe continue on either wing.

Mark Bennett and Gabriel Ascarate form the centre partnership, while Duncan Weir and Chris Cusiter continue at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.

In the pack Gordon Reid and Jon Welsh complete the front-row, while Jonny Gray and Tom Ryder combine in the second-row.

Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro and Josh Strauss make up the backrow.

The Warriors have won all three of their away games in the PRO12 this season and have won on two of their last three visits to Ireland.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We were all disappointed with the defeat to Munster last weekend and we're determined to pick ourselves up for what will be another tough game tomorrow night.

“Connacht are playing very well under Pat Lam and came very close to beating Saracens and Leinster in recent weeks, so we know how difficult this game will be.

“Due to the upcoming autumn tests we’ve made a few changes, which is an opportunity for a number of other players in the squad."


Glasgow Warriors team to play Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12, Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday 2 November (kick-off 5pm):


15. Niko Matawalu

14. Byron McGuigan

13. Mark Bennett

12. Gabriel Ascarate

11. DTH van der Merwe

10. Duncan Weir

9. Chris Cusiter (Captain)


1. Gordon Reid

2. Dougie Hall

3. Jon Welsh

4. Tom Ryder

5. Jonny Gray

6. Rob Harley

7. Chris Fusaro

8. Josh Strauss


16. Fraser Brown

17. Moray Low

18. Ed Kalman

19. Richie Vernon

20. Leone Nakarawa

21. Tyrone Holmes

22. Scott Wight

23. Finn Russell

Not available due to injury: Mike Cusack (shoulder), Alex Dunbar (neck/shoulder), Finlay Gillies (hamstring), Stuart Hogg (wrist), Peter Horne (knee), Peter Murchie (shoulder) and Ryan Wilson (shoulder).

The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at the Sportsground (KO: 5pm) has been named. There are four changes to the starting XV that lined out at the RDS last weekend.

Dave McSharry returns to the fray for his first start in ten months and is named at inside centre. The 23-year-old marked his return from injury last month by coming on as a replacement in the 33-6 Heineken Cup victory over Zebre.

Joining McSharry in the centre is 20-year-old Darragh Leader who made his first senior appearance away to Ospreys last season. The utility back has impressed the management through his performances in training and with the Connacht Eagles.

Connacht’s leading try scorer Fionn Carr is named on the right wing in a back three featuring Gavin Duffy and Matt Healy.

Up front, Jason Harris-Wright will start as hooker in his 25th appearance for the province.

The replacements bench includes veteran Tighthead Prop Nathan White who returns after a three-week absence due to injury. Mick Kearney is also included in the match day squad and could earn his first appearance of the season.

Head Coach Pat Lam commented on the team selection and the upcoming game:

“I’m delighted to be able to give Dave McSharry a start after a long road to recovery for him. And with our regular outside centres unavailable, young Academy back Darragh Leader gets a chance to start which we’re all looking forward to.

“Once again, it’s been a disruptive week with more players being added to our ever growing injury list. Losing Sean Henry, Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, and Danie Poolman to injury and Robbie Henshaw to Ireland camp has meant that we’ve had to dig deep as a group.

“On a positive note, it’s a big boost to have Jason and Nathan back in the squad. We’ve been really pleased with the form of our props Rodney and Brett in the last number of weeks and so they’ll start again tomorrow with Nathan on the bench.

“Glasgow are at the top end of the table and are a team who have been consistently improving the last number of years. I witnessed their last visit in May when I had first arrived here. They were an impressive outfit and very clinical in beating us. They are one of the best defensive outfits in the competition and will punish any errors.

“But we have been building and building on the performances and fight of the last few weeks and are really looking forward to this clash.”

Kick-off is at 5pm on Saturday 2nd November and the only way to get in on the action is to get down to the Sportsground. Tickets start at €20 for adults and €5 for all juniors and are available from tickets.ie, the Connacht Rugby office and Centra and SuperValu stores province-wide.

Connacht line-up v Glasgow

15. Gavin Duffy
14. Fionn Carr
13. Darragh Leader
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Michael Swift (captain)
5. Craig Clarke
6. Mata Fifita
7. Jake Heenan
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Nathan White
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Mick Kearney
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Tiernan O’Halloran

Unavailable/Injured: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Willie Faloon, Conor Finn, Eoin Griffin, Sean Henry, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Miah Nikora, Rory Parata, Danie Poolman, Peter Reilly, and Kyle Tonetti

Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
At the Sportsground, 5pm
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 55th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Ken Imbusch (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Denis Templeton (IRFU)

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-face-glasgow/

You were close Swift4prez!!!

Former Coach wrote: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-face-glasgow/

You were close Swift4prez!!!

would of had a strong centre!

its really getting to the stage of what will happen with Denis Buckley

Connacht team pretty much as expected would have benched Duffy but it is what it is, up to him to find some form now. Glasgow centre partnership is unknown to me, Horne would be their first choice 12? Matawalu while a superb player is out of position so there might be some opportunities between those two decisions. How did parata get injured? He wasn't likely to play this game but might get a go before the end of the season if he keeps up the good work with the Eagles.

phatguerilla wrote: Connacht team pretty much as expected would have benched Duffy but it is what it is, up to him to find some form now. Glasgow centre partnership is unknown to me, Horne would be their first choice 12? Matawalu while a superb player is out of position so there might be some opportunities between those two decisions. How did parata get injured? He wasn't likely to play this game but might get a go before the end of the season if he keeps up the good work with the Eagles.

Bennett is the rising star of Scottish rugby. He went off to France as a kid before returning on loan last season. He has suffered from injuries AFAIK and only really got game time towards end of last season. Very exciting runner and a big boot on him also AFAIK. As carte is an argue journeyman centre. Tough as nails and knows the game. It goes against lams game plan but I'd be throwing up a few garryowens for Healy, Duffy and Carr to chase to see if matawalu is another fetu under the high ball.
That's a strong Glasgow team though so Connacht need to keep it tight and play it in their half. Getting isolated and turning over cheap ball is not the way against these guys. They will destroy you in those circumstances .

The Connacht team is interesting. Great to see mcsharry back and I've been impressed with leaders attacking ability. A big game defensively is required though from him so will be interesting . Pack is as good as can be expected.

Is it on telly?

rossie wrote:

phatguerilla wrote:
Is it on telly?

Nope. Leinster on tonight and Munster on TG4 tomorrow night - YouTube on Monday (again).

Great to see McSharry starting and also glad see Kearney on bench, an underrated player imo

Happy with this team if you look at the injuries we have its the best we could put out. Good to see Carr get a chance to shine and Leader getting a chance. Kearney needs a big game to show Lam why he shouldn't be thrown aside. I'm hopeful for this one.

Looking at the table this evening I think this is one we really need to win. The gap up to Dragons in 6th is at 9 points which is a lot already. However, a win gets us back into striking distance of a number of teams and from a psychological viewpoint gets us off the bottom and puts us in the right mindset for the two games during the Autumn Internationals. Another defeat would knock us back a step and would really leave us an uphill task to reel in the sides above us in the coming months.

We are up against a good Glasgow side but we need to start winning these type of games if we are to make any progress this season. We've already got nothing from two home games and two of our away games which we got 6 points out of last year we got no return from this year. Head to head we are 9 points off last year already.

Great to see Dave McSharry back and Nathan White will be a good replacement to bring on in the front row. Hope things go well for Daragh Leader. Apart from that its along expected lines. Agree with wp_rathead its good to see Kearney back in the 23, good player.

The intensity of the Saracens match on and off the pitch must be brought to the table again. The crowd must play its part.

POD did well when he came on
As did Ronaldson

Heenan showed he is human by missing 2 tackles, but was good otherwise

Clarke showed his class tonight

Stupid try early on from our own scrum, and our inability to gather at restart cost us dearly

Composure lacking when it mattered, epitomised by Mata's sin binning at the end when we had them by the throat. Couldn't get a try despite spending so much time in their 5m. Missed pens killed us too and we couldn't get the restarts right. Honestly, we need to give someone else a chance at 8, I don't care if they never played there before. George is just simply not good enough for this level. He has one job at scrum time and he can't do it right for the life of him.

Really disappointing loss and performance in difficult conditions.

that was so poor that its hard to believe. thats a second string glasgow side. ill leave it to others to give there bit but ive one point id like to make.

kicking was piss poor. 2 from parks and 1 from ronaldson. they are paid to kick them. again an away team outhalf comes here and slot them over. i rememner 2 years ago isa newawa came here and kicked 18 i think for leinster and won. i think it was NOC and Nikora missed half dozen.

first half parks decided to kick into a strong wind and dropped short 5 or so metres. awful gamble.
second half parks kicked and went wide on the near post. same thing with ronaldson, wide on the near post. everyone knows with a bit of cross wind, put it to the far post or further and wide will carry it. its as if parks and ronaldson kicked it for middle of the posts and scratched there heads why it went wide.
if carr or heally dropped the ball over the line, we'd give out. missing kicks is not good enough at home. wind shuould not come as a surprise.

i know from a few people that as good a man eric was, he couldnt be telling parks the faults he had. i hope lam is bigger then that.

I have to say that I agree with the Prez, if you take a kick it has to be because you believe that you are going to get it...... Our choices were wrong. I would love to know what Parks overall percentage is? Ronaldson looked to have more gas and made one great break, but the same rules apply, we need to get those kicks. We need to get them to get wins ! The chances have to be taken, the percentages need to be higher.