SKIPPER TEST FOR WARRIOR JONNY

GREGOR TOWNSEND has thrown down the gauntlet to young star Jonny Gray to prove he should be the man to lead Glasgow Warriors next season. The Scotland lock has been handed the captaincy for the crucial Guinness Pro12 clash against Connacht today, with the full-time job up for grabs next season after club stalwart Al Kellock retires. And Townsend insists it is not a risk to elevate the 21-year-old, saying: ‘Jonny is quiet by nature but he leads by example as good as any player I have seen. ‘He gets involved in the game very well and is a real leader on the pitch. He calls line-outs successfully for Scotland and for us, which means he is communicating with the No 9s and 10s so he is involved in what sort of tactics we are looking to adopt in most moves. ‘He has had a bit of time as captain with Scotland when he took over late in the game against France in Paris in the Six Nations when Greig Laidlaw went off. It was Jonny who was encouraging his team-mates to defend near the end. ‘Yes, he is a young man who has still got a lot of developing to do as a player but the signs are that, as a leader, the fundamentals are all there. ‘I have no qualms making him captain against Connacht as he is part of a leadership group of five captains — big Al, Josh Strauss, Jonny, Henry Pyrgos and Chris Fusaro.’ The importance of the fixture has meant that Townsend has named as strong a team as possible for the trip to Ireland, with Stuart Hogg returning ahead of Peter Murchie at full-back after missing the win over Cardiff Blues a fortnight ago through injury. Tight-head Euan Murray also returns after a leg injury, taking over from Mike Cusack who has a foot injury.