TOWNSEND BACKS HORNE TO FILL IN FOR FINN
VERSATILE Peter Horne will fill in at fly-half for Glasgow Warriors against Scarlets tonight knowing full well he may be called on to play the same role off the bench for Scotland against Australia. With Finn Russell rested for the game in Wales on the orders of Scotland head coach Vern Cotter, centre Horne will take the No 10 shirt at the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. The lack of strength in depth at fly-half is evident not just at Warriors but also Scotland, with Russell the only specialist No 10 in the national squad for the match against the Wallabies. Horne will likely be named on the bench for the match at Murrayfield next weekend to provide cover at centre and fly-half. With that in mind, Horne has been released from the Scotland squad for two reasons this weekend, while 11 of Glasgow’s star players will be rested. One, is that Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend needs him desperately as he doesn’t have anybody else to play at ten. The second, is that Horne has had just 18 minutes of rugby since he fractured his hand back in mid-September and needs game time to make sure he is match-fit to take his place on the bench for Scotland against Australia. Townsend believes Horne can cope with playing out of position two games in row because his versatility makes him one of the most important members of both the Glasgow and Scotland squads. ‘It’s a real asset having a player like Peter in our squad as he can play at 10 and twelve, which is vital for us at times like this with Finn away,’ said the Warriors head coach. ‘I am sure he will do well because he filled in at 10 when Finn was injured in the first two Pro12 games of the season. ‘Peter fractured his hand against Cardiff in September and had been out for a while. Although he made his comeback against Treviso last weekend, he only got about 20 minutes off the bench before having to come off again with a head knock. ‘It wasn’t too serious and he’s come through his return to play protocols and is ready to start for us down in Wales.’