FRANCO SMITH has named nine member’s of Scotland’s Six Nations squad in his match-day 23 for tomorrow evening’s crucial URC clash against Munster at Thomond Park, including brothers Zander and Matt Fagerson at tight-head prop and blindside flanker respectively, despite the pair’s heavy workload during the recent international window.
Zander started for Scotland from round two through to round five of the Six Nations after recovering from a hamstring injury which had sidelined him since the start of December, while Matt started the first four matches and then came off the bench for the final half hour of the round five game against Italy (he finished the campaign as the tournament’s top tackler). However, both players were rested during the fallow weekends of the Six Nations while some of their fellow Scotland squad members such as Simon Berghan and Jack Dempsey (who are not playing this weekend) turned out for Warriors during that period.
The other Scotland squad members involves are hooker Fraser Brown, second-row Scott Cummings, flanker Rory Darge, scrum-half Ali Price, centre Stafford McDowall and full-back Ollie Smith who all start, plus George Horne as replacement scrum-half.
Meanwhile, Jamie Dobie, who is principally a scum-half, is selected on the wing, as Warriors seek an away win which will keep them ahead of tomorrow’s opponents in the race for the URC’s fourth home play-off slot.
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“We know the size of the test that Munster will provide in front of their home supporters tomorrow night,” said head coach Smith.
“Our focus, though, is solely on ourselves – the squad has trained well all week since returning from their break, and we are focused on putting out the best version of ourselves tomorrow night.
“Competition for selection has been hard-fought, and everyone in the playing group is putting their hand up and pushing to be involved each week.”
Glasgow Warriors (v Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday @ 5.15pm UK time): O Smith; C Forbes, S McDowall©, S Johnson, J Dobie; D Miotti, A Price; N McBeth, F Brown, Z Fagerson, J Du Preez, S Cummings, M Fagerson, R Darge, S Vailanu, J. Substitutes: J Matthews, A Dell, L Sordoni, L Bean, A Samuel, G Brown, T Gordon, G Horne, T Jordan.
Munster: M Haley; C Nash, M Fekitoa, J Crowley, S Daly; J Carbery, P Patterson; D Kilcoyne, D Barron, R Salanoa, Jean Kleyn, F Wycherley, J O’Donoghue ©, J Hodnett, G Coombes. Substitutes: S Buckley, J Wycherley, S Archer, R Snyman, A Kendellen, C Casey, R Scannell, S Zebo.
Unavailable for selection: Sebastian Cancelliere (knee), Facundo Cordero (hamstring), Richie Gray (rib), Oli Kebble (head), Sintu Manjezi (knee), Jack Mann (head), Josh McKay (foot), Enrique Pieretto (chest).
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Doesn’t matter who they are fielding, to be 28-0 up at half time at Thomond park is a ridiculous result. Pity Edinburgh couldn’t take a leaf out of their playbook.
Where is Fifita he’s a winger, we actually seem to have only two proper wingers although Steyn seems to be coming a winger by default. Things cannot be that desperate that we are playing Dobie. This could be for a home 1/4, though Munster have 2 tough South African games it could be a tough run in.
Didn’t Glasgow sign a winger from super 6 for occasions like this?
It says below the teams that Cordero has a hamstring injury.
Just typical that the Warriors sign an emergency wing who isn’t fit for the games he’s needed.
I like Dobie but not as a wing starter. Shows how stretched we are at wing and a shame new signing Cordero is already on the injured list.
Sorry, I forgot to add that it was Elias Caven who came up from super 6 and yet isn’t mentioned in the squad listings. No idea if he’s fit or available. Probably crocked as well.