The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Glasgow welcome four back from Scotland
Glasgow have four key men back from Vern Cotter’s Scotland squad for tonight’s visit to the Scarlets as they attempt to stay close to the top of the Pro12 before the Autumn Tests, writes Steve Scott.
Peter Horne, Tim Swinson, Mark Bennett and Rob Harley have rejoined the Warriors squad for the trip to West Wales, with Ali Price, Rory Hughes and Nick Grigg also returning to Gregor Townsend having taken part in some Scotland training this week. Horne starts at 10. The Warriors also give first starts to Canadian prop Djustice Sears-Duru and new New Zealand-born second row Brian Alainu’uese.
There’s also a first appearance on the bench for Jamie Bhatti, an Academy player who has been propping for Melrose this season in the BT Premiership, as both Gordon Reid and Alex Allan have been withheld by the international set-up.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has taken the opportunity this week of having the entire Warriors Academy train with the seniors, and called up Stafford McDowall from Ayr and former Dunfermline centre Adam Nicol for a look at the professional set-up.
“The international windows always provide us with challenges, but I’ve been impressed with the way the players have responded and we have three Academy players in the squad for this game,” he said.
“It’s extremely tight already at the top of the Pro12 and we expect Scarlets to be challenging hard for a play-off place at the end of the season.”
Glasgow team (v Scarlets, Guinness Pro12, Parc y Scarlets, tonight ko 7.35, live on BBC Alba): Peter Murchie; Lee Jones, Mark Bennett, Sam Johnson, Rory Hughes; Peter Horne, Ali Price; Djustice Sears-Duru, Pat MacArthur, Sila Puafisi; Tim Swinson, Brian Alainu’uese; Rob Harley, Simone Favaro, Lewis Wynne. Replacements: Corey Flynn, Jamie Bhatti, D’Arcy Rae, Matt Fagerson, Langilangi Haupeakui, Grayson Hart, Rory Clegg, Nick Grigg.