IMPACT SUB
Finn Russell’s topsy-turvy season just took another lurch, and not in a good direction. Dave Rennie has benched his star Scotland stand-off and instead given the No 10 shirt to Peter Horne for this evening’s game against Connacht at Scotstoun in response to Russell’s anaemic display against the Scarlets last weekend.
He is not the only high-profile casualty because his regular international half-back partner, Ali Price, is keeping him company on the pine – Henry Pyrgos starts – after lightning struck the little scrummy twice. He conceded an interception try to Gareth Davies in the Six Nations and did the same again last weekend in the Pro14.
“It was Finn’s first game back in,” head coach Rennie offered by way of explanation. “We are going into the business end of the season and I want them to understand that, regardless of reputation, we are just going to play guys that we think will do the job for us.
“To be honest, to win it [the Pro14] we need Finn playing at his best. He was a couple of shades off it last week. Horney is a pretty accomplished ten as well and he gets a crack this week. Hopefully Finn comes off the bench and plays well.
“Finn is pretty clear on expectations. He is desperate to leave this club with another title. Ultimately you are judged by your performance and judged by your preparation. If guys don’t perform as expected you have two options. You give them another crack or you apply pressure by showing confidence in others.
“We have lots of competition for places and Finn has had a pretty good run with Scotland, starting every game, so we are keen to give Horney a start.”
Elsewhere there is a rare place for Alex Allan and Alex Dunbar, who has recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place alongside Sam Johnson in the midfield. Such is the Warriors’ strength in depth in his position that the Scottish international has struggled to force his way back into the starting XV and, as his coach explained, he is not the only one.
“We have really good depth in midfield,” said Rennie. “I think Sam Johnson has probably been our best midfielder throughout the year and you have to find a place for him going into the business part of the season, and that leaves four other international midfielders to fill two of those spots and, with Peter Horne able to play ten and 12, that leaves just one other [place].
“Alex Dunbar has recovered from injury, he’s been avail-
0 Peter Horne wears the No 10 shirt tonight as the Warriors seek top billing in Pro14’s Conference A.
DAVE RENNIE able the last couple of weeks. He’s trained really well and we looked closely at putting him in last week but Nick Grigg’s form has been excellent. So, yeah, Nick’s unlucky that he is out of the mix this week but Alex is good to go and it’s tough for Huw [Jones].
“He’s had a really good attacking campaign for Scotland, he’s certainly a high quality finisher. He is working really hard on his defensive game and training hard, and he might get an opportunity next week, but it’s hard to fit them all in, dammit!”
Glasgow were well off the pace last week both with and without the ball, failing to threaten the Scarlets’ line while playing a big part in all three of the Welsh region’s hattrick of tries. Rhys Patchell ran through several Glasgow defenders for both his scores and Price earned another unwanted “assist” for Davies’ interception.
In response, Rennie has also thrown Matt Fagerson into his starting team just after the breakaway was flown back from the Far East with a hamstring injury which took him out of contention for the Commonwealth Games sevens squad yet has miraculously recovered in time for him to play tonight’s match.
Scott Cummings earns a place in the second row, replacing the injured Tim Swinson, while hooker Fraser Brown has recovered from his head injury to take his place in the middle of the front row.
A win for Glasgow this evening would guarantee them top billing in Conference A and the home semi-final that comes with it. On last week’s evidence, the Warriors will need every advantage they can get. Tyson Fury claims he can go on to knock out “dosser” Anthony Joshua and reclaim his place as king of the heavyweight division after confirming a return to the ring for the first time in nearly three years.
The former world champion has signed with promoter Frank Warren and will fight at the Manchester Arena on 9 June, against an opponent who is yet to be revealed, following his doping suspension.
Fury last fought in November 2015 when he outpointed Wladimir Klitschko to win the IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
In December, Fury accepted a backdated twoyear ban from UK Antidoping. He tested positive for a “prohibited substance” in June 2016, but said that was as a result of eating wild boar.
The 29-year-old has been preparing to return since January, when the suspension on his boxing licence was lifted.
Fellow Briton Joshua has stepped into the spotlight to become the WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder, having last month beaten Joseph Parker on points in Cardiff.
Fury, though, said he was “back to reclaim what is rightfully mine – the world. There are a few people out there claiming to be the world’s best, but I know for a fact they are not,” Fury said. “Given the right amount of fights, then I don’t believe these guys are going to be much of a match-up for me.”
Fury claimed the current heavyweight title holders were “sluggers and wild punchers”. Asked for his thoughts on Joshua, Fury said: “He is a big old dosser – he is a belt carrier for me. By the time I get ready to fight, it is going to be an easy fight, no contest.
“He is looking for one punch all night. We all saw the Parker affair – anybody who can move a bit and throw a few feints, he struggles, he can’t land on.
“I will outbox him for a few rounds and then I will knock him out.”
Fury feels WBC champion Deontay Wilder is “top of the pile”, but claimed “they are all vulnerable and very beatable too”.
“To be honest, to win it [the Pro14] we need Finn playing at his best. He was a couple of shades off it last week… Hopefully Finn comes off the bench and plays well.”