The hooker damaged medial ligaments on Scotland’s tour to South Africa in the summer but has been named in Gregor Townsend’s starting line-up to face the English Premiership side, just two weeks before the start of the new season.

New Argentinean centre Gabriel Ascarate starts his first game for the club at inside centre, while Peter Murchie (full-back) and Tommy Seymour (right wing) also come into the backline.

Mark Bennett (outside centre), Byron McGuigan (left wing), Scott Wight (fly-half) and Ali Price (scrum-half) keep their places in the side, following the 53-0 win over Aberdeen Grammar a fortnight ago.
Chris Fusaro, who missed the majority of last season with a groin problem and Richie Vernon, who has returned to the club after two years at Sale Sharks, both start in the backrow alongside James Eddie.
Tom Ryder and Jonny Gray combine in the second-row, while props Ed Kalman and Gordon Reid complete the front row alongside MacArthur.

Fresh from Scotland’s summer tour Sean Lamont, Henry Pyrgos, Tim Swinson, Jon Welsh and Moray Low are included on the bench. Rory Hughes, Finn Russell, Tyrone Holmes, Will Bordill and Kevin Bryce are also in reserve.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend said: “This game will be a very tough test for us, but one which we’re all looking forward to.
"It’ll be a good experience for the players to play at Twickenham Stoop against one of the top sides in England.
“We’ve had a couple of hit outs, one against Aberdeen and an in-house training game this week and we’ve been pleased with a number of aspects.

“The intensity will now increase for our final two pre-season games against Harlequins and then Exeter Chiefs next weekend.

“This is an opportunity for a number of the players to put their hands up for selection for our season opener against Cardiff Blues in a couple of weeks and I’m expecting a big performance from the side.”
Glasgow Warriors

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Mark Bennett
12 Gabriel Ascarate
11 Byron McGuigan
10 Scott Wight
9 Ali Price
1 Gordon Reid
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Ed Kalman
4 Jonny Gray
5 Tom Ryder
6 James Eddie
7 Chris Fusaro (Captain)
8 Richie Vernon
Substitutes: Kevin Bryce, Jon Welsh, Moray Low, Tim Swinson, Will Bordill, Tyrone Holmes, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Rory Hughes, Sean Lamont

This article was posted on 23-Aug-2013, 10:19 by Hugh Barrow.