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Glasgow team v. Cardiff Blues

Magners League fixture kick off 7.30 P.M. at Firhill

15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Hefin O’Hare, 13 Max Evans, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Mark McMillan CAPTAIN, 1 Jon Welsh, 2 Dougie Hall, 3 Moray Low, 4 Tim Barker, 5 Richie Gray, 6 James Eddie, 7 Chris Fusaro (Heriot’s)*, 8 Richie Vernon

Substitutes: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Paul Burke (Ayr), 20 Colin Gregor, 21 Alex Dunbar (Selkirk)*, 22 Peter Murchie

Players to watch:

Rhuaridh Jackson: Sign of the future, next year he should be pencilled into this position at a more regular basis when Dan Parks will be playing for the Cardiff Blues. This is his chance to show that Parks won’t be missed too much. With versatility in hisability to play full back (as shown during his spell at Ayr) this also could count as an audition for him to show his value as a potential squad member for the Scotland Squad. He must start to show his potential fast, or Frazier Climo could be hot in his heels for both club and country.

James Eddie: A flanker in the Kelly Brown mould, he must be one of the players ear marked to contest to be a new member of the “Killer B” back row due to the departure of the aforementioned Kelly Brown. A very methodical, consistent player who gives outstanding effort, he has put in some impressive performances for West of Scotland. An alumni of the same school of former Glasgow Warriors back row rival, Stevie Swindall, who is now playing for Rotherham, Eddie could be the one who ends up eclipsing his former school mate in becoming an automatic starter for the Warriors.

Max Evans: What does it mean that he is playing this game?  We are none the wiser for his selection today. A player who has hardly been an ever present this season, he could be in the side to get his match fitness ready for the next 6 nations fixture, although some will debate the risk of playing him considering the spate of injuries Scotland have suffered in the last week. His selection at outside centre probably means he won’t be slotting in for Scotland as a winger in a direct replacement for his injured brother, allowing Sean Lamont to stay at outside centre, as was rumoured earlier this week. However, this match could also be a test for Evans, as his underwhelming performance against France probably still leaves a bitter taste in Robinson’s mouth.

And two you might not be able to:

Colin Gregor: Glasgow’s forgotten man, performs well whenever and where ever he is called upon. This is exactly the type of fixture that Gregor normally gets to show his talents, when his other, more recognised team mates are away on international duty. He was Man of the Match against Scarlets this season and he is able to step in at scrum half, stand off, full back and centre, but he is a victim of his own versatility.

Paul Burke : A very interesting call up who has been on fire for Ayr this season, especially in the British and Irish cup tie against Rotherham. He also made a difference when he came on in the recent club international against France. His career has been scuppered somewhat by injuries so far but he is now beginning to fulfill his potential and he could make a push to be a major player in professional rugby in this country.

And one Glasgow Warriors want you to watch:

Richie Vernon : As rumours continued in the Herald yesterday about Beattie’s future at the club, with hints that he could follow Kelly Brown out the door, the Warriors wouldn’t want to consider losing a player of Beattie’s standard if they didn’t have a replacement lined up. Warriors and the SRU clearly think they have something in Vernon and if he continues in the form he showed in the post Christmas fixture against Edinburgh, they will be proven right.

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