Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend has challenged his team to attack their latest Heineken Cup match with pace and intensity as they seek a first win in this years’ competition.


Townsend has made nine changes in total to the side that was defeated by Castres Olympique last week at Scotstoun Stadium as they travel to France for the Pool 4 reverse fixture at Stade Pierre-Antoine.

He said: “It would be a great achievement to go out and win in France, but we’ve selected a team capable of playing a high-tempo game, which is what we’ll need to do in order to beat Castres.
"We have some very dangerous runners in the backline, five of whom have played on the wing this season. There is pace throughout the side and I’m also looking for a hard edge from the forwards over at Stade Pierre-Antoine.”

“We must be much improved in our accuracy from last week’s performance, which was well below the standards we demand of each other. It wasn’t a true reflection of what this group has produced this season.
"Castres grew in confidence the more we failed to hold on to ball and were as strong in the set-piece as we predicted they would be. They will be even better at home, but I expect to see a very different performance from us on Sunday.”


John Barclay takes the captain’s armband and will start in the back-row alongside James Eddie at blind-side with Ryan Wilson at number 8.

 Moray Low begins the game at tight-head prop with Gordon Reid on the other side of hooker Pat MacArthur. It’s the first game this season that won’t feature Mike Cusack who is unavailable due to a shoulder injury.


Tom Ryder, who has just signed a new contract to keep him at the Warriors until at least May 2015, will partner Tim Swinson in the second-row.


The changes continue into the back line with Sean Maitland involved from the start in the number 15 jersey.
Sean Lamont moves in one from his usual spot on the wing and will, on his fiftieth appearance for the Warriors, occupy the outside centre position with Peter Horne, impressive in the last two outings, retaining his spot at number 12.


Ruaridh Jackson is recalled to the stand-off position with Niko Matawalu also earning the nod to start at scrum-half. DTH van der Merwe – also making his fiftieth appearance in a Warriors shirt - and Tommy Seymour, the clubs two leading try scorers, take up the wing positions.


There is a mix of youth and experience ready to take to the fray off the bench with Dougie Hall, Ryan Grant and Rob Harley alongside Elite Development players George Hunter and Nick Campbell covering the forwards.


Also in the substitutes are Sean Kennedy, the EDP scrum-half, Byron McGuigan and Graeme Morrison who is set to make a welcome return from injury.


Townsend continued: “This is just one in a big series of games we’re involved in over the next few weeks and we need to be at our best in each of these encounters.”
“This weekend gives us an opportunity to perform and produce a rare win in France but do that we need to be sharper, more accurate and get back to scoring tries.”



Glasgow Warriors team to play Castres Olympique in round 4 of the Heineken Cup at Stade Pierre Antoine (Sunday 16 December, kick-off 1.45pm)


15. Sean Maitland 
14. Tommy Seymour
 13. Sean Lamont 
12. Peter Horne
 11. DTH van der Merwe

 10. Ruaridh Jackson
 9. Niko Matawalu


8.Ryan Wilson 
7.John Barclay (Captain) 
6. James Eddie
 5.Tom Ryder
 4.Tim Swinson 
3.Moray Low
 2.Pat MacArthur
 1.Gordon Reid


Substitutes

16. Dougie Hall
 17. Ryan Grant
 18. George Hunter
 19.Nick Campbell 
20.Rob Harley 
21.Sean Kennedy 
22.Graeme Morrison 
23.Byron McGuigan

This article was posted on 14-Dec-2012, 12:54 by Hugh Barrow.