Cotter Keeps Changes To A Minimum

AND now, the end is near, we face the final curtain....Dublin on Saturday and our final match in Six Nations, 2016.

 

It's a hard one to call, we CAN win in the Aviva, but, it will be hard and I am not entirely confident. Big Vern Cotter announced his team this morning, and it is:

 

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 42 caps; 10 tries, 3 pens, 59 points

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 26 caps; 13 tries, 65 points 13. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 16 caps; 2 tries, 10 points 12. Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors)  – 15 caps; 4 tries, 20 points 11. Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 25 caps; 11 tries, 55 points
10. Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps; 2 tries, 7 cons, 10 pens, 1 drop, 57 points 9. Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 50 caps; 4 tries, 62 cons, 118 pens, 498 points
1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 56 caps; 2 tries, 10 points 2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 98 caps; 2 tries, 10 points 3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps; 1 try, 5 points 4. Richie Gray (Castres) – 55 caps; 2 tries, 10 points 5. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps 6. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 49 caps; 4 tries, 20 points 7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps; 3 tries, 15 points 8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
Substitutes
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps 17. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped 18. Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 31 caps 19. Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps; 1 try, 5 points 20. Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 7 caps 21. Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps; 4 tries, 20 points 22. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps; 2 tries, 1 con, 1 pen, 15 points

23. Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 103 caps; 14 tries, 70 points

 

Duncan Weir - as expected, he fills-in for Finn Russell at 10 in Dublin

 

 No surprises in the squad, after beating France, BVC was always going to keep changes to a minium. I am delighted to see Henry Pyrgos getting the reserve scrum-half slot, I believe this demonstrates, he is now the number two to Captain Laidlaw. This will allow SHC to go back to Edinburgh and get some much-needed game time.

 

I have no beef with Rob Harley being called-up to cover the second row, but, I still believe he is better at six, with Ben Toolis the better back-up option in the boiler-house. But, on reflection, with the breakdown battle certain to be fierce, Harley and Strauss offer better cover for back row casualties, while, in extremis, Stuart McInally could do a shift there too.

 

 

 

BEFORE Saturday, however, there is equally epic trans-Irish Sea action, at Scotstoun, where Warriors take on old pals Leinster in a re-arranged Pro12 match.

 

Both sides will be below-strength, Warriors particularly so; since they have 11 players in Scotland's 23-man squad at the Aviva on Saturday. The Irish team has not been announced at time of writing, but, Leinster will have quite a few players involved too.

 

With Finn Russell going through the return to play protocol after his head knock v France, and Duncan Weir called into the national team as replacement, Gregor Townsend has wasted little time in calling-up a familiar figure to play at 10 on Friday night.

 

Rory Clegg - back in Glasgow colours

 

Rory Clegg, who created a good impression for Warriors, when there on a short-term deal as World Cup cover, has been brought back from France and handed a one-year deal. He goes straight into the team tomorrow night, where he will partner Grayson Hart at half-back.

 

The Glasgow squad to face Leinster is:

 

15. Peter Murchie (Captain)
14. Lee Jones
13. Mark Bennett
12. Sam Johnson
11. Rory Hughes
10. Rory Clegg
9. Grayson Hart

1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Greg Peterson
5. Leone Nakarawa
6. James Eddie
7. Simone Favaro
8. Adam Ashe

Replacements

16. James Malcolm
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Scott Cummings
20. Tyrone Holmes
21. Ali Price
22. Nick Grigg
23. Glenn Bryce
 

There are 12 full internationalists in that squad, so, Glasgow need not feel inferior on the night, and, with home advantage, I would generally expect them to win, perhaps even picking-up a much-needed bonus point along the way.

 

BUT, and I am afraid there has to be a but - in their wisdom? the Pro12 officials who allocate referees for games have decided to place Scotland's favourite Irishman in charge. Yes folks, George Clancy will have the whistle.

 

George Clancy - will referee Glasgow v Leinster

 

This puts extra pressure on Lloyd Linton and Mike Adamson, the Scots' officials on the line, and whichever Scots are on TMO and Citing Officer duties, since they will have to try to off-set George's well-proven anti-Scottish decision-making, if Glasgow are to have anything like a fair crack of the whip.

 

But, to be fair, appointing George to cover a game involving an Irish team is ridiculous. Are there no Welsh or Italian officials available? Why not invite the RFU to send someone up?

 

Meanwhile, the Scottish referees on the Pro12 panel continue to be side-lined. It is a stitch-up.

 

There is just one other Pro12 game being played tomorrow night - Cardiff Blues v Munster, in Cardiff. It too has an Irish referee. What the fuck is going on when it comes to referee allocations?