Wilson backs Jones to be Warriors’ vital spark
DANNY WILSON is backing a resurgent Huw Jones to provide the main spark when his Scotland big guns return for Glasgow Warriors’ European Challenge Cup clash with Montpellier in France tonight. Head coach Wilson has insisted on playing the 27-year-old at full-back rather than in his more recognised position at centre this season. And he is convinced that Jones — who will want to make an impression in Europe before leaving for Bayonne this summer — can be as major a threat there as former Glasgow star Stuart Hogg is for Scotland and Exeter. One of ten Scotland internationals returning from Six Nations duty for this evening’s tie, Wilson feels Jones is key to unlocking the French side’s defence. ‘Huw has hit form from playing 15 here at Glasgow week in, week out,’ he said. ‘As a running threat, it gives him more time and opportunity to attack in wider channels, and it means he can run loose kicks back. ‘That’s what Hoggy is very good at, and Huw’s in that category for me. He’s a big attacking threat and we want to play fast this weekend, play an attacking brand of rugby. Huw ticks that box for us.’ The return of his Scotland players has allowed Wilson to make major changes to the inexperienced side that beat Benetton on league duty last weekend. Props Oli Kebble and Zander Fagerson pack down either side of Fraser Brown in the front row. And an experienced second-row partnership sees Richie Gray line up alongside Rob Harley. Thomas Gordon returns to the starting XV after coming off the bench in the Pro14 win over Benetton, with Tongan international Fotu Lokotui shifting to the blindside in a back row completed by co-captain Ryan Wilson. Ali Price and Adam Hastings combine in the half-backs after orchestrating Scotland’s dramatic win in Paris while Nick Grigg and Sam Johnson start in the centre. Rufus McLean makes his European debut on one wing with Lee Jones on the other.
Montpellier: Bouthier; Goosen, Vincent, Serfontein, Rattez; Lozowski, Cobus; Forletta, Guirado, Haouas, Verhaeghe, Chalureau, Van Rensburg, Camara, Becognee. Glasgow Warriors: H Jones; McLean, Grigg, Johnson, L Jones; Hastings, Price; Kebble, Brown, Fagerson, Gray, Harley, Lokotui, Gordon, Wilson. Kick off: 8pm, GGL Stadium. TV: LIVE on BT Sport.