Family affair for head coach Stuart Lancaster as son Dan named as starting outhalf for Glasgow
Family affair for head coach Stuart Lancaster as son Dan named as starting outhalf for Glasgow Stuart Lancaster's men go into the game having achieved their key aim of securing Champions Cup rugby next season.
Photograph: Darren Stewart/INPHOAll the odds are stacked in favour of Glasgow, and understandably so. Unbeaten at home in the URC, their only loss all season at Scotstoun was against Toulon in the Contrast that with Connacht’s poor record against the Scots: 10 losses in succession and just two victories in 19 matches – in 2003 and 2010.men take on the Warriors in a good head space, particularly having achieved their primary aim of making Champions Cup rugby next season, sealed by aMatt Williams: Leo Cullen helps make Leinster amazing, but big changes are needed under him“We have a lot of momentum.
We are fit and in good shape, and we go there with confidence,” he said.
“This is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the season, so credit must go to all the players for what they’ve displayed in the last few months to get us to this position. Now we have to go out there and seize the opportunity.
“Glasgow are a formidable opponent with an array of talented players, who are very well coached, but we are excited by the challenge ahead of us. ”Lancaster, however, will be hoping his players can spring a surprise, having gained increasing confidence throughout the season. Lancaster’s faith in youngster Billy Bohan continues, with the loosehead named in the frontrow alongside Dylan Tierney-Martin and Sam Illo, while Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray form the secondrow.
There is little change in the backs with Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy forming the halfbacks. With Harry West sidelined, John Devine comes in to partnerA sideline interest in this fixture is of course Lancaster versus son Dan, who has been named as the starting outhalf for Glasgow.
Franco Smith’s side is brimming with experience and top-tier individuals, with a formidable all-Scotland backrow of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey, who started in wins over England and France in the recent Six Nations. Of Irish interest, the Warriors’ replacement scrumhalf Jack Oliver was born in Scotland and grew up in Ireland, and was a member of the same Ireland under-20 squad as Devine and Gavin.
There is also a return for British and Irish Lions lock Scott Cummings in his first appearance since January, while in the backs there is no shortage of speed in centres Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall. Scrumhalf George Horne can be a real nuisance, and Connacht will need to be on their guard.
It would be hard to back against the Scots – the form team – but Lancaster has faith in his improving Connacht to deliver a performance that will keep the Scots on their toes. J McKay; K Steyn , S McDowall, S Tuipulotu, K Rowe; D Lancaster, G Horne; P Schickerling, J Matthews, Z Fagerson; S Cummings, A Samuel, R Darge, J Dempsey.
S Gilbert; S Jennings, J Devine, B Aki, S Bolton; J Ioane, B Murphy; B Bohan, D Tierney-Martin, S Illo; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast , S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle. Matt Williams: Leo Cullen helps make Leinster amazing, but big changes are needed under himView from South Africa: Lions lie in wait armed with Bordeaux’s blueprint for LeinsterMan arrested after leading gardaí to woman’s body in Co GalwayLATEST STORIESPress Ombudsman partially upholds complaint from Vitalie Botgros
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