Match Preview: Glasgow Warriors vs. Ulster Rugby

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ADM
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Match Preview: Glasgow Warriors vs. Ulster Rugby

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[tag=image]http://www.shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch ... rriors.jpg[/tag][tag=content]Last week and this week seem to be in stark contrast to each other.

Last week we were gearing up for a win that would set up a perfect season at home in the Pro12 and also set up an enthralling final day clash with Glasgow that would decide which team would finish the season at the top of the pile and have a home semi-final. This week there is a sense of disappointment in last Saturday’s draw and, even though Iain Henderson had his red card rescinded in midweek, injuries to props Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst have only compounded our sorrow.

It means a home semi-final is highly unlikely – even if we do emerge from Scotstoun Stadium tomorrow with all four points we need either Connacht to beat the Ospreys or the Dragons to overcome Munster, neither of which seem overly likely as much as we want them to happen. Indeed, all the talk this week was whether we send the Ravens to Scotland and focus on the inevitable away semi-final, and the team selection would suggest we’ve done so, with a bit of insurance on the bench.

The stats do not help us either – we face a massive challenge in overcoming Glasgow this weekend, especially at Scotstoun in front of a record crowd for the Scots.

Before last Friday’s defeat to the Ospreys, Gregor Townsend’s side haven’t been outside the top two since round 10 which is a testament to how well they have done to push on from last season’s final appearance, and victory over us may just be good enough to push them back into the top two once more, and bring a home semi-final back to Scotstoun next week.

Indeed, Townsend’s side haven’t lost consecutive matches since rounds 15 and 16 of last season’s competition (yes that is correct) and possess the league’s only 100% home record after ours was ended last weekend. So, put simply, to host a semi-final next weekend we first must win in a stadium that every other side has been defeated at. Simple.

Still, victory for us will guarantee us at least third and, theoretically, the easier trip in the knockouts (if there even is an easier trip). Don’t forget the unbelievable character we showed to score in the dying seconds of last week’s game to secure the draw that will undoubtedly be carried over to tomorrow’s match as well – it ensured we still possess a league-best record of just one defeat in our last nine outings.

Surprisingly we are still in with a chance of completing a clean sweep of the two Scottish sides (something I’m sure is a rarity for us), which means we also have a shot at completing our first double over the Warriors since the 2010/11 season too. Still, only once before have we been victorious at Scotstoun Stadium, and even then that was in the Heineken Cup three years ago.

Suitably worried yet?

Even if you are, we have to hold out the belief that one of either Connacht or the Dragons will pull through for us and overcome their respective opponents, and that somehow – SOMEHOW – we can do to Glasgow what we did to Munster last year. If we could get one of the home semi-finals back to the Kingspan Stadium then we stand a superb chance at returning there for the final on the 30th May and we would have pulled off possibly the greatest escape in our history.

And only we could do that.

The teams
Six changes for Gregor Townsend and his Glasgow side, including the return of captain Alastair Kellock to the second row. There are two changes in the backs as Sean Lamont returns from injury to start on the wing with Nikola Matawalu switching to scrum-half and Henry Pyrgos dropping to the bench while Finn Russell returns at fly-half in place of Duncan Weir. Dougie Hall and Roussow de Klerk are introduced at hooker and tighthead prop respectively while the final change sees Adam Ashe return to the back row at number eight in place of Rob Harley.

The predicted mass changes eventually comes to a grand total of twelve for Ulster as Neil Doak focuses on next week’s semi-final. Louis Ludik, Franco van der Merwe and Chris Henry are the three players who keep their places in the line-up with the latter captaining the side from openside flanker. In the backs, Rory Scholes and the departing Michael Allen take the wing berths while Sam Arnold and Stuart McCloskey form another new centre partnership. Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys start as half-backs. Up front, Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring and Ricky Lutton make up the front row with Lewis Stevenson partners van der Merwe in the second row. Clive Ross and Robbie Diack are brought into the back row alongside captain Henry.

Glasgow Warriors vs. Ulster Rugby
Saturday 16th May, 15:00
Scotstoun Stadium
Guinness PRO12 – Round 22

Live on Sky Sports 1

GLASGOW WARRIORS
15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Tommy Seymour, 13. Richie Vernon, 12. Peter Horne, 11. Sean Lamont, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Nikola Matawalu; 1. Ryan Grant, 2. Dougie Hall, 3. Roussow de Klerk, 4. Jonny Gray, 5. Alastair Kellock (capt.), 6. Josh Strauss, 7. Chris Fusaro, 8. Adam Ashe.

Replacements: 16. Pat MacArthur, 17. Gordon Reid, 18. Mike Cusack, 19. Leone Nakarawa, 20. Ryan Wilson, 21. Henry Pyrgos, 22. Duncan Weir, 23. Peter Murchie.

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Rory Scholes, 13. Sam Arnold, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Michael Allen, 10. Ian Humphreys, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Andrew Warwick, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Ricky Lutton, 4. Lewis Stevenson, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Clive Ross, 7. Chris Henry (capt.), 8. Robbie Diack.

Replacements: 16. Rory Best, 17. Kyle McCall, 18. Bronson Ross, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Roger Wilson, 21. Ruan Pienaar, 22. Paddy Jackson, 23. Tommy Bowe.

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 31st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Sam Grove-White (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)[/tag]
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