Glasgow fought back from a half time deficit to overcome a spirited Munster side with some flashes of last season’s brilliance on show during the collection of four tries and the win, vital for their position in the Guinness PRO12. Munster were at pains to point out their side featured several academy players but up-front in particular, the Warriors featured two very inexperienced hookers in James Malcolm and Cammy Fenton as well as youngsters Glenn Bryce and Ali Price (there’s a rap in there somewhere).
Heartening for Vern Cotter will have been the solid performances from Josh Strauss (man of the match) and Peter Horne, as well as capable displays from Duncan Weir and Sean Lamont which will make the selection of the 23 to face Italy a lot trickier.
Also pleasing might have been the return to play of lock Grant Gilchrist for Edinburgh had he not then fractured his arm almost straight away. Gilchrist, who is heavily rumoured to be heading to Toulon next season alongside Leone Nakarawa to join the young Scottish qualified lock on their books in the shape of Andy Cramond. Edinburgh didn’t have a good time of it in Wales for a second week running, with poor discipline costing them dearly against the Ospreys; having put in a commanding first half they wilted in the second and came away with nothing. However the Welsh liked what they saw of Sam Beard the last two weeks, with the Welsh qualified centre having been snapped up by the Dragons for next season.
Also well worth a mention is our friend and former writer Alan Dymock – who was the driving force of this blog, dragging Rory and I up by our collars to increase the scope and readership for many years – who was named Rugby Journalist of the Year (2015). We’re properly chuffed for Alan and while we’d love to take all the credit, the award – his first time nominated – reflects the hard work and deep insight into the game that was a hallmark of his time with us, especially as, like all of us, he was giving up his time for free. Congratulations!
The weekend bits done, Cotter has updated his squad based on injuries to Sean Maitland and Blair Cowan, with the crisp service of Grayson Hart earning him a call up to train and Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson and Rob Harley all returning. George Turner of Edinburgh also gets a nod, with the attempts to rapidly upskill Scottish hookers continuing.
Revised Scotland Squad
Forwards: Ross Ford, Stuart McInally, George Turner, Alasdair Dickinson (all Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby). John Barclay (Scarlets), David Denton (Bath), John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley, Josh Strauss, Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby).
Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Grayson Hart (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Finn Russell, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne (all Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Sean Lamont, Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps).
Here’s a potential match day 23 for Rome:
Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Taylor, Visser, Russell, Laidlaw; Dickinson, McInally, Nel, Gray, Gray, Barclay, Hardie, Strauss.
Bench: Sutherland/Reid, Ford, Fagerson, Toolis, Denton, Hidalgo-Clyne, Jackson, Horne
Who would you pick?
UPDATE: It has been announced that Strauss, Fagerson, Weir and Hart have been released back to Glasgow for the weekend. Given this (slightly conservative?) approach, makes it look more likely to be a team like:
Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Taylor, Visser, Russell, Laidlaw; Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Gray, Gray, Barclay, Hardie, Denton.
Bench: Sutherland, McInally, M Low, Toolis, Wilson, Hidalgo-Clyne, Jackson, Horne