Toony’s six pack can muscle in on victory
GLASGOW coach Gregor Townsend has brought six internationals back into his team to play Racing 92 in the Champions Cup this afternoon – and is confident his side can pull off “something special”.
The Warriors lost in Paris in the pool stages of last year’s competition against today’s opponents, who went on to reach the final.
But Townsend’s team won the return match at Rugby Park, and the head coach hopes that the experience gained from both games will help his men to what would be a surprise win against one of the richest clubs on the continent.
“We have a huge challenge ahead of us this weekend against one of the best teams in Europe, but we will travel to Paris with belief in achieving something special,” Townsend said after naming his side.
“We know Racing 92 well having played them twice last season and have learned a great deal from those experiences.
“We have also been boosted by our returning international players who have helped us have a very good week of training.”
Some of those internationals were back in the side last week when they lost to Munster in the PRO12, but this match is the first time since the Autumn Tests that Townsend has been able to select what, barring injury, is his strongest team.
The three additions to the back line see Stuart Hogg return at full-back, Alex Dunbar come in at centre and Finn Russell start at stand-off.
In the pack, Zander Fagerson, captain Jonny Gray and Italian back-row forward Simone Favaro are the three who return from international duty.
Ali Price continues at scrumhalf, but Henry Pyrgos is listed among the substitutes for the first time since recovering from a knee injury and should come on midway through the second half.
Pete Horne and Rory Hughes, who were both carried off last week and face long spells on the sidelines, are among the injured who would have been considered for a place if they had been fit.
THE Warriors are on a threegame losing streak for the first time since Townsend took over, but the head coach has been encouraged by signs of improvement last week and is sure the return of his big guns will be a boost.
“The players are in a positive place,” he said. “They were obviously disappointed with the defeat [last week], but there are a couple of ways you can go with it as a coach.
“You can be really tough on the players or you can try and boost them up or you can work as normal – and this week has been a work-as-normal choice, because I thought the second half was excellent.
“I thought we put in a lot of effort to get back into the game and score two tries.
“Yeah, we didn’t get the win, but we were on the right track. We’re boosted by players coming back this week and the challenge will be tougher, but you gauge on how the players are training and we’ve worked well this week.”
Glasgow Warriors: SHogg;TSeymour, A Dunbar, S Johnson, L Jones; F Russell, A Price; G Reid, F Brown, Z Fa g er son,TSw in son, J Gray, R Harley, SF avaro,R Wilson. Substitutes: C Flynn, A Allan, S Puafisi, BA lainu’ uese,J Strauss, HP yr gos, M Bennett, S Lamont.