Six changes for Glasgow

Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, has this week made six changes to the starting XV that has elevated his side into the top two of the Magners League during the opening fortnight of the competition.
Having come out on top during a bruising encounter against the Scarlets on Sunday afternoon, Sean stresses that it was always in his thoughts to freshen things up in week three due to the tight turnaround ahead of Friday’s showdown at Rodney Parade.

“We’ve made a few changes, but it was always in the plan,” said Sean. “However, we’ve had to make a couple more through injury. This week will really test the depth of our squad.”

Two of the six changes are in the backs where Scotland 7s internationalist Colin Shaw takes over on the left wing from Thom Evans who is ruled out with a trapped nerve in his neck.

Elsehwere, Mark McMillan comes in for Chris Cusiter at scrum-half to partner Dan Parks as Chris is unavailable for family reasons.

In the pack, it’s all change either side of hooker Dougie Hall. Jon Welsh is rested after three big performances against Wasps, Munster and Scarlets and makes way for Samoan international Justin Va'a who will make his first appearance of the season.

Ed Kalman is brought in at tight-head for Moray Low who nurses a recurring ankle problem.

In the second row, Dan Turner swaps his place on last week’s bench with captain Alastair Kellock whilst fellow Scotland ‘A’ international Calum Forrester is given the nod ahead of Kelly Brown who moves to the bench.

Sean continued: “This is the first of four games against the Dragons this season, but it’s all about Glasgow. We’re going down there with real intent. There’s a confidence and a belief in this squad and we’re hungry to get a result.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Newport-Gwent Dragons in the Magners League at Rodney Parade on Friday 18 September (ko 7.30pm)

15 Bernardo Stortoni

14 Rob Dewey
13 Peter Murchie
12 Graeme Morrison CAPTAIN
11 Colin Shaw

10 Dan Parks
9 Mark McMillan

1 Justin Va'a
2 Dougie Hall
3 Ed Kalman
4 Tim Barker
5 Dan Turner
6 Calum Forrester
7 John Barclay
8 Johnnie Beattie

Substitutes

16 Pat MacArthur
17 Kevin Tkachuk
18 Alastair Kellock
19 Kelly Brown
20 Colin Gregor
21 Peter Horne
22 Hefin O'Hare

This article was posted on 16-Sep-2009, 13:43 by Hugh Barrow.