Ospreys wary of Warriors at Firhill
New signing Dave McCall will return to the Magners League stage on Friday when he pulls on a Glasgow jersey for the first time in the competition for this weekend’s showdown with the under-fire Ospreys.
McCall, a Scotland 7s internationalist, gained previous Magners League experience when he made three appearances for Edinburgh back in season 2006/07, however, he is now delighted to be back in the professional ranks – this time in Glasgow colours.
“I was really grateful when Sean [Lineen] called and discussed joining Glasgow on a training contract,” said the 22-year-old. “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the squad and feel that being out of the professional game for a few years has reinforced my appetite for the game at this level.
“The Ospreys are a quality side and I’m really looking forward to getting another opportunity to perform in the Magners League.”
Looking forward too seeing his new recruit make his Glasgow debut, Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen said: “Dave has had a great pre-season and has fitted into the squad very well. He is a real athlete and has matured a lot over the past few months.
“Not only will he be up against a side full of internationals, but littered with British Lions as well. It’ll be a massive test for him but I’m confident that he’s got the goods.”
The Ospreys have lost three of their last four games in the Magners League and have won just one of their last four visits to Scotland and Lineen is hoping that the Warriors can extend the list of defeats on Scottish soil.
“We have to take what happened last week [a 30-19 away loss to the Dragons] on the chin. We’ve had two good wins at home but that’s not to say we don’t have to work for another.”
The Ospreys meanwhile have named Ian Evans in the 22 for the first time since undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery after he injured his knee playing for Wales against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium last November.
Elsewhere, there are first starts for Alun-Wyn Jones and Shane Williams while Steve Tandy is also handed his first run on of the season.
“We need to get on a bit of a roll and get some performances under our belt, starting at Glasgow. It was a happy hunting ground for us last year, we played well up there, but it’s always a very difficult place to go so we’re under no illusions. Munster and the Scarlets have been beaten there this year so it’s going to be a difficult game,” said head coach Sean Holley.
“Marty Holah has been one of our outstanding players in the early part of the season so we’e giving him a well earned rest. Steve Tandy has impressed during the warm-up games and in training so deserves his chance. It’s great to have Ian Evans back, it’s been a long slog for him and we’re delighted to have him back in our squad. With Ian and Alun-Wyn now both available, it’s allowed us to give Ian Gough a rest as well, before we focus on some of the big tests that we’ve got coming up over the next few weeks.”
The teams:
Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Rob Dewey, 13 Dave McCall, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock (captain), 4 Tim Barker, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mark McMillan, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Hefin O’Hare.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Tom Smith, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Gareth Owen, 22 Nikki Walker.
Date: Friday, 25 September
Venue: Firhill
Time: 18.05 (17.05)
Referee: TBC
