Munster ‘the best way to get back on track’

Taking on the Guinness PRO12 leaders and “the best team in the league” is the best way for Glasgow Warriors to get back to winning ways at Scotstoun tonight, believes Gregor Townsend.

The second of four clashes with Munster this season is what faces Glasgow, who recall nine players lost to them during last week’s final Autumn internationals.

Only the players who played in all three of Scotland’s autumn tests – Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Zander Fagerson, Alex Dunbar and Jonny Gray – have been excused tonight’s match.

“It’s the best game to have, definitely,” said Townsend.

“We want to go out and play well and we’ll have to against the best team in the league just now.

“We played them recently in Europe and they were much better than us on the day, but we have to show determination to respond not just to what happened here last week but what happened in that game.”

Last week’s setback was the loss to Ospreys, Glasgow’s second home defeat of the campaign and one that mean they lost both PRO12 games played during the international window.

“We obviously wanted to get through the November period with better performances and with wins,” said the head coach.

“Especially at home, because losing at home doesn’t happen very often for us.”

Peter Horne and Ali Price form a new half-back combination, while Ryan Wilson, man of-the-match for Scotland against Georgia last week, will skipper the side from No 8.

Duncan Weir and Will Helu are back in the Edinburgh starting line-up ahead of the Guinness PRO12 meeting with Ospreys.

Stand-off Weir is back for tonight’s clash in Swansea after recovering from a fractured jaw while winger Helu makes his first appearance of the season following a long-term hamstring problem.

Centre Junior Rasolea and hooker Stuart McInally are also back in while Allan Dell and Grant Gilchrist return from Scotland duty

Acting head coach Duncan Hodge said: “We were disappointed with the loss to Dragons but we’re on the road to Wales again and are looking to bounce back with a big performance against a good Ospreys side.

“They are a team who will be high on confidence due to their current form.”