PYRGOS IS BACK AND GREGOR IS DELIGHTED
HENRY PYRGOS will make his long-awaited return for Glasgow against Cardiff Blues tomorrow, finally reaching 100 appearances for the Warriors. The 26-year-old scrumhalf will captain Gregor Townsend’s men, who are back on their home ground for the first time since December 12. Pyrgos had surgery on his wrist following the World Cup and has not played for Glasgow since the Pro12 Final against Munster last May. ‘Henry has been very unlucky to miss so much rugby,’ said head coach Townsend. ‘He has not played for us this season, so to have him back is a huge boost,’ ‘He has been in our leadership group for the last two years. ‘He got better and better last season. He played very well in the final and carried that form on with Scotland. ‘Henry is itching to get back, he has done all the rehab and has trained for the last two weeks. We can’t wait to see him playing again.’ International pair Mark Bennett and Alex Dunbar team up in the centres for Warriors and Tim Swinson also returns from Scotland duty. Lying seventh in the league, Glasgow must keep winning if they are to make the play-offs for the fifth season in a row. And Townsend knows it will be a tough test at Scotstoun as Cardiff have conceded an average of just under 11 points in their last four matches. ‘Getting back here to our lovely pitch will be great, but we know we have a tough game,’ he admitted. ‘Cardiff are a much better side than they were at the beginning of the year. Defensively, they have improved hugely. ‘Graham Steadman, the former Scotland defence coach, is working really well there. ‘We love playing at Scotstoun because we have a very good record there. ‘And we owe it to our supporters to play a very good game of rugby when we return. ‘We then have a week off, so there is huge focus on getting a very good performance on Sunday. ‘We then have our game in hand against Leinster, which will be massive. Two teams in the top six or seven playing against each other. ‘I presume we will have to go to Connacht and Scarlets and win (in the last two matches of the season). ‘Whether we win five games in a row up until then or not, those matches will really count — for play-off places, for Europe, for a home semi-final. ‘We know the run-in but our focus right now is obviously this weekend.’