Same again for Glasgow
The Glasgow Warriors will field the same starting XV that defeated Connacht last weekend for their Magners League match against a makeshift Ospreys outfit at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.
The side features just one change to the match-day 22 having been boosted by the return of Scotland hooker, Fergus Thomson, who joins the bench after recovering from a series of injuries.
The repeated XV means Scotland centre Max Evans and 20-year-old lock Richie Gray retain their starting slots after an impressive return to the frontline for last weekend’s bonus point win.
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, said: “The squad’s got even tighter because of what’s been happening off the field with illness and injuries. The last few weeks we’ve been able to get more bodies into training which has made a big difference.
“Consistency isn’t two games. Consistency is five or six games, but even just to have the same team for another game allows us to become a little bit more familiar.
“The guys are now getting the chance to work with each other a bit more like Chris Cusiter and Dan Parks – the key combinations that you need to work well. It’s all about familiarity.
“Having that stability is good but there’s no doubt that this game against the Ospreys is a huge challenge. It’s an altogether different challenge to Connacht. It’s the only Welsh province that we haven’t won away against and we’d like to change that.”
The Ospreys meanwhile, have tried to piece together a competitive 22 without the services of 10 players away with Wales and a growing casualty list.
The likes of backs James Hook, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar as well as forward namesakes Alun-Wyn and Ryan Jones are on international duty, while scrumhalf trio Mike Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Isaacs are among those out with injury.
Ospreys Director of Coaching Scott Johnson, though, is trying to look at the positives.
“When you look at the list of players unavailable to us for whatever reasons, the size of the task we face hits home,” he said, “But it’s an exciting challenge. As has been the case in previous years, when the internationals are away, it gives other players a chance to shine.
“We’ve got some exciting talent coming through, and the next few weeks will give us the chance to see what the new wave of Ospreys are capable of.”
Team:
Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Gareth Owen, 9 Liam Davies, 8 Tom Smith, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Filo Tiatia, 4 Ian Gough (Captain), 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Ryan Bevington
Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Ross Davies, 18 James King, 19 Steve Tandy, 20 Rhodri Wells, 21 Jonathan Spratt, 22 Nicky Thomas
Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Colin Shaw, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Al Kellock (Captain), 4 Richie Gray, 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
Date: Friday, October 30
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Kick-off: 19.05
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Tim Hayes (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
