Edinburgh and Glasgow are still in action on Friday night and although most of the general fans will be watching France against Italy, the Black and Red Army and the Warrior Nation have two crunch games to try and pick up some points.
Glasgow will be boosted by the return of Zander Fagerson to competitive action just in time for a ruckus with old foes Munster. He isn’t the only big name back in action, with Oli Kebble and Richie Vernon also making long overdue appearances.
The bench looks a little short on second rows and you could argue this is quite far removed from their first choice team. But as always there is attacking talent all through the side and this game will be a great chance for the youngsters to test themselves.
Great news also for Rob Harley the captain, who will break the record for appearances for Glasgow with 178, overtaking Graeme Morrison.
Glasgow: Ruaridh Jackson, Lee Jones, Sam Johnson, Brandon Thomson, Ratu Tagive, Adam Hastings, George Horne; Oli Kebble, James Malcolm, Siua Halanukonuka, Kiran McDonald, Scott Cummings, Rob Harley (capt), Matt Smith, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Grant Stewart, Alex Allan, Zander Fagerson, Lewis Wynne, Chris Fusaro, Henry Pyrgos, Richie Vernon, Niko Matawalu.
Not available due to injury: Brian Alainu’uese (knee), Adam Ashe (head), Fraser Brown (head), Alex Dunbar (thigh), Callum Gibbins (achilles), Pat MacArthur (shoulder), Leo Sarto (shoulder) and George Turner (knee).
Munster: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal, James Hart; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Dave O’Callaghan, Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Calvin Nash.
At Irish Independent Park this weekend, kick-off 7pm, live on Sky Sports Action.
Fresh off a frankly brilliant (in a grubby sort of way) win away at Ulster, Edinburgh play the Dragons away, but also away from Rodney Parade in Ebbw Vale. The home side are fresh off a loss to Treviso and a draw with Glasgow so Cockerill’s men will be looking to continue their misery.
Mark Bennett is rested this week which gives Chris Dean – who has signed a new contract – a run out with James Johnstone; Dougie Fife will make his 100th appearance for the club.
Neil Cochrane has recovered from the head knock that kept him out of Scotland camp this week and starts at hooker, while the increasingly impressive Lewis Carmichael (age 22) partners Fraser Mackenzie in the boilerhouse. Magnus Bradbury, John Hardie and Bill Mata make up a useful looking back row unit.
Up front Ben Toolis has remained with Scotland despite not making the squad, so like Glasgow they look a little light on the bench at second row, but have some talent in CdP and Crosbie to bring off it. Once again Duncan Weir remains available to save the day.
Edinburgh: 15. Dougie Fife, 14. Jason Harries, 13. James Johnstone, 12. Chris Dean, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Jaco van der Walt, 9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1. Jordan Lay, 2. Neil Cochrane, 3. Murray McCallum, 4. Fraser McKenzie (capt), 5. Lewis Carmichael, 6. Magnus Bradbury, 7. John Hardie, 8. Bill Mata.
Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Elliot Millar-Mills, 19. Cornell du Preez, 20. Luke Crosbie, 21. Nathan Fowles, 22. Duncan Weir, 23. Junior Rasolea.
Dragons: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Charlie Davies; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Liam Belcher, 3 Leon Brown, 4 Joe Davies, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Benjamin, 8 Lewis Evans (capt).
Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Gerard Ellis, Lloyd Fairbrother, Harri Keddie, Ollie Griffiths, Sarel Pretorius, Connor Edwards, Jarryd Sage.
At Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park (Friday 23 February, kick-off 7.30pm), not televised
14 Responses
Always good to get Richie back in the 23, but also good to see Scott Cummings back for Glasgow – him and Jonny Gray will be the mainstay of Scotland’s 2nd row for years to come.
Ritchie and Cummings should be capped during the summer tour. Given the rate each of them have been improving throughout the last year, wouldn’t bet against them making the WC squad.
Ritchie would also be my pick for Edinburgh captain next year. Think Cockerill made a mistake with Bradbury who, despite being a very promising player, seems too nice and lacking in edge. Ritchie also seems like the type of player someone like Cockerill would love
Tryhard he’s talking about Richie Vernon – Jamie Ritchie isn’t in Edinburgh’s squad this week
Haha so he isn’t, my mistake. Serves me right for glossing over the article and heading straight to the comments.
Good to see Richie Vernon back. Talented player who’s had horrible luck with injuries
Great to see RV back, but I don’t think that that team combined with Mitrea reffing will get the win. Edinburgh should have enough to overcome Dragons and Clancy, though. It’s an absolute joke that the game isn’t being televised, though. Really disappointing.
Munster front 5 looks ominous for a bit of a path work warriors side. They’ll do well to get anything from this game but they’re so far ahead they almost certainly don’t need to!
Credit to Harley for breaking Morrison’s record, and looks like setting a new benchmark.
It would be interesting to speculate (i) what Harley’s final appearance figure will be (ii) whether it will ever be challenged, and if so whether any of the current playing squad might be that individual.
A wee slip in the title there lads – Pro14! I literally still call it the Pro12 every second time I reference it – I’ve only just stopped calling it the Celtic league or the Magners league too!
I agree the sentiments of Highland Bear – what a servant Bob has been, and his final tally may never be beaten.
Thanks, will fix it!
Both squads have been light on the second row for the previous two matches as well. Glad to see Richie V back, I’m sure he can provide second row cover, he’s played everywhere else.
Aye, I reckon he could do a job at hooker too!!
I think realistically we could steal it, could make a game of it or could get a hiding depending on whether we show up or not.
Man for man I don’t think we’re that much inferior but mentally the English players WILL turn up. And they’re comfortable and well drilled in their game plan which has been proven to be effective. Our organised chaos game plan is by its very nature going to be hit or miss so our big players will need to be on fire and any having a shocker will be ruthlessly exploited by the pragmatic English.
Bah wrong article.
…and Mitrea massively fancied the home team. He should ref for the IRFU. Not saying we’d have won otherwise, but he is a joke.