Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys, Scotstoun, Friday 19 April, 19:35 hrs

Oh well after the disaster on Friday in Llanelli we need a huge performance from The Warriors against a tough team. Do Jackson and Pyrgos carry the can for Friday or does Toonie stick to his guns - how is that for a mixed metaphor ?

My team :-
Hogg
Maitland
DTH

Matawalu
Weir
Horne
Dunbar

Grant
MacArthur
Welsh

Swinson
Kellock
Strauss
Barclay
Wilson

Bench: Low, Hall, Harley, Slamont, Pyrgos, Reid, Ryder, Jackson

This game is huge. Can't wait.

My Os team would be

Fussell
Grabham
Sprat
Beck
John
Biggar
Khan/Habberfield
Bev
Hibbs
Adam
AWJ
Ianto
King
Tips
Bearman

Maesteg - any injury concerns after yesterday ?

I agree with both of the teams named above.

There is a chink of light for Glasgow because Leinster didn't get a BP this weekend but the fact remains that this is a great league because any of the top 6 could beat each other on any given day, especially when playing at home.

I couldn't bear to watch any more than the first half of the Scarlets game. Just goes to show how good the top teams are. Glasgow had their worst game all season but the fact remains that if you lose by more than 3 scores like that, you have officially been stuffed and the Scarlets showed exactly what's acheivable if you come out of the traps fast and are relentless with the pressure.

Everyone has had at least one brainfart lately (Ulster losing to Edinburgh, Munster shipping 50 to Glasgow, Leinster losing at home to Ulster and Ospreys letting Munster snatch the draw) and it shows how close we all are.

If we were playing down at the Liberty then I would be sceptical about our chances to take anything away but this is the last chance saloon for a home semi now and it was plain that everyone in the Glasgow set up was absolutely appalled by the last performance. There will be a backlash if Toonie picks the right team.

What was mystifying was our scrum which has been tremendously solid all season - Toonie has to know that anything other than 1. Grant 2. MacArthur 3. Welsh/Cusack is just Wrong against this front row. We also have to go back to 9. Niko and 10. Meatball - Jackson is maddening. How can he put together two performances like Munster and then Scarlets. It's really quite a feat.

Really looking forward to it. I think it will be a high scorer.

I'd like to see;

1 - Grant
2 - MacArthur
3 - Low
4 - Swinson
5 - Kellock
6 - Harley
7 - Barclay
8 - Strauss
9 - Niko
10 - Weir
11 - DTH
12 - Dunbar (Horne)
13 - Bennett
14 - Maitland
15 - Hogg

16 - Hall, 17 - Reid, 18 - Welsh, 19 - Ryder, 20 - Wilson, 21 - Pygros, 22 - Horne (Jackson), 23 - Lamont

Play territory and use Weir's boot to build a score, with the likes of Niko and Hogg in the team we'll get opportunities to score but can't force it for 80 minutes. This is a must win game, 1 point will do.

Defo need Dunbar back if available. Can't see Cusack making this one though so Jon 'Angela' Welsh to start - hard on Gordon Reid too but Ryan Grant was probably our best player in Friday's horror show along with Barclay

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Maesteg - any injury concerns after yesterday ?

Only Bevington who seemed to be sparked out cold, it all depends on weather he has had concusion I guess. The Glasgow forwards need to be up to the task next week, they struggled Friday night against a far inferior Scarlets pack, the Ospreys in my opinion have the best pack in the league and this is where the O's will target next Friday's game.

Yes our pack went from league leaders to Brownie leaders on Friday. Welsh is a huge guy who could make a difference - added to Swinson at lock and maybe even Doug Hall at hooker.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Yes our pack went from league leaders to Brownie leaders on Friday. Welsh is a huge guy who could make a difference - added to Swinson at lock and maybe even Doug Hall at hooker.

I know Wilson has been playing really well this season but Harley adds steel to the pack, like a ginger terminator he just doesn't give up.

I agree with really bored with regards to the backrow. I really rate Wilson but he had a poor game on Friday and we should look at Strauss at 8 with Harley and Barclay on the flanks. Should maintain a good balance there.

This is going to be controversial (abuse anticipated) but if Dunbar isn't available then I think we may be better with Morrison or Lamont starting at inside centre. A big guy there will offer more defensively than Horne but will also play to Nikos style where he takes a few steps and offloads flat to a big runner coming at pace. Quick recycled ball on the front foot will then allow us to use our pace out wide.

Agree DrT

How ironic that Toonie is now, presumably, being driven to distraction by a matchwinning but erratic no.10.
Still, two wins should get us a home semi. One win a play off berth.
Two losses and we get bugger all reward for some outstanding rugby this season.
21st Schiz, your team looks just about right, although possibly Jackson to start. No wonder Toonie is looking so follically challenged.

jeez you guys don't hang about setting up match threads!

RDW_Scotland wrote:jeez you guys don't hang about setting up match threads!

All of a sudden, since Glasgow have been pulling up trees, my celtic brethren to the north have been walking around like peacocks on here, and rightly so might I add, I seriously do not think that a league title is far away for Glasgow, but this is a season, or two, too early and I think that the O's will win on Friday, they always seem to pull out the needed results in this league when they need to, but I am often wrong, as my wife keeps telling me.

There's no reason Glasgow can't win the league and there is no reason to consider it a season too early. They have a strong enough side and can beat anyone on their day. Munster got heavily beaten by the Warriors one week and the next beat Harlequins away to get into the HC semi without too many differences to their team. Teams have off days but Glasgow are much stronger at home and that home semi remains very important. We also need our stand off to be consistent and reliable, as if the players around him lose trust then there can be real problems.

I'm probably one of Jackson's harshest critics but this weekend showed exactly why - he went from match winner to schoolboy errors in the space of a week - he shouldn't be doing that at his age and with his experience.

RDW_Scotland wrote:jeez you guys don't hang about setting up match threads!

Lots to talk about RDW - time's a wastin'.

Think it's fair to say the treviso v Edinburgh thread won't be up and running til Thursday night at the earliest....!

Sorry - I have mostly focused on the west coast this season.

There's definitely not been much focussing from the east coast lot this season - and that's just the players!

LordDowlais wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:jeez you guys don't hang about setting up match threads!

All of a sudden, since Glasgow have been pulling up trees, my celtic brethren to the north have been walking around like peacocks on here, and rightly so might I add, I seriously do not think that a league title is far away for Glasgow, but this is a season, or two, too early and I think that the O's will win on Friday, they always seem to pull out the needed results in this league when they need to, but I am often wrong, as my wife keeps telling me.

very generous of her, LD!

Toonie must play his strongest team and trust in his players to do a job - question marks in my mind over Ryan Wilson, Rhubarb Jackson & Hornee furraaa lineee - will they play to their capability or repeat Friday's guff. Nico in for Pyrgos tho for definite

Glasgow's pack came off 2nd best in the last two games, if Cusack is fit he must start no matter what, Low was in trouble against the Scarlets and i have been very impressed by the O's scrum against a decent Treviso scrum.
Also i would drop Kellock and Wilson to the bench and bring Harley at 6.

Matawalu must start, it's a no brainer, Glasgow are a completely different side with him playing.

Agree with ASBO - you need Nico in at 9 to inject that tempo and get Glasgow some front foot ball in open play. Do that and it allows the others around him to play.

This is the big one, win this and I think it's a home semi-final for Glasgow. Having seen Connacht on Friday, I don't think Glasgow will slip up in that fixture.

1.Grant 2.MacArthur 3.Low 4.Swinson 5.Ryder 6.Harley 7.Barclay 8.Strauss 9.Nico 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Horne 13.Dunbar 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

That's what I would start with.

Go with that team fES but Welsh in for Low

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree with ASBO - you need Nico in at 9 to inject that tempo and get Glasgow some front foot ball in open play. Do that and it allows the others around him to play.

This is the big one, win this and I think it's a home semi-final for Glasgow. Having seen Connacht on Friday, I don't think Glasgow will slip up in that fixture.

1.Grant 2.MacArthur 3.Low 4.Swinson 5.Ryder 6.Harley 7.Barclay 8.Strauss 9.Nico 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Horne 13.Dunbar 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

That's what I would start with.

I dunno. If you can beat them at home so can we. And if you do it, they will have feck all to play for against us.

If we win our last two you will not be able to catch us, as we will have an extra win. You would have to score 2 x BP wins and we would have to have no BPs.

We have Zebre on Sunday..........

Rabbo Rules wrote:

3.5. If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

• number of matches won;
• the difference between points for and points against;
• the number of tries scored;
• the most points scored;
• the difference between tries for and tries against;
• the fewest number of red cards received;
• the fewest number of yellow cards received.

2 x plain vanilla wins puts us on 76 points.

If you beat the Ospreys without a BP we just need 2 wins of any kind and you can't catch us.

No need to rub it in, Jen.

Yes that dismal performance on Friday will cost us very dear

Anyhoo. How is this for a bold Toonie selection for Friday

15 Murchie
14 Seymour
13 Dunbar
12 Horne
11 DTH
10 Weir
9 Nico
1 Grant
2 Hall
3 Welsh
4 Ryder
5 Swinson
6 Big Bad Bob Harley
7 Barcs
8 Strauss

Hogg, Maitland, Kellock, Wilson all benched No Jackson with Scott Wight replacement 10.

Pinched this from the Warriors site but it might just work

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Anyhoo. How is this for a bold Toonie selection for Friday

15 Murchie
14 Seymour
13 Dunbar
12 Horne
11 DTH
10 Weir
9 Nico
1 Grant
2 Hall
3 Welsh
4 Ryder
5 Swinson
6 Big Bad Bob Harley
7 Barcs
8 Strauss

Hogg, Maitland, Kellock, Wilson all benched No Jackson with Scott Wight replacement 10.

Pinched this from the Warriors site but it might just work

Is this the team, then? If so, then is wee Dunky injured? If not, certainly bold. Who are the front row subs?

If Glasgow beat Ospreys then the Ospreys will have to beat Leinster so I can't imagine that Leinster will get the Bonus point win there, Zebre will definetely be five points for you so it will all come down to that game. Ulster almost definitely have a home semi but there last game is against the Blues and it will be Jamie Roberts and co's last outing so they will be up for it, so I think that the hunt is still wide open.
I expect Glasgow to win comfortably against Ospreys, there's going to be a pretty big crowd and it's potentially the last home game of the season, factor into that the fact that there will be a backlash following the Scarlets performance and that Glasgow smashed them earlier in the season.

My team:

1. Grant
2. MacArthur
3. Welsh
4. Kellock
5. Swinson
6. Harley
7. Barclay
8. Strauss
9. Matawalu
10. Weir
11. DTH Van De Merwe
12. Dunbar
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Reid
17. Hall
18. Low
19. Ryder
20. Wilson
21. Pyrgos
22. Jackson
23. Lamont

Looks like you're in luck ASBO
http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/5340-warriors-to-face-exeter-in-pre-season-friendly

No Jimbo it is a potential side with Reid, Low and MacArthur also on the bench. There are 10 changes to the starting 15 from Friday though !

Anyway Warriors cheer yerselves up wi this brammer from our chums at Alba:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulKJYwhDiU4&feature=player_embedded

123456789 wrote:Looks like you're in luck ASBO
http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/5340-warriors-to-face-exeter-in-pre-season-friendly

Oh aye, very happy with that, Numbahs - if any of the Glasgow folks are thinking of making the trip, then please PM me?

Enjoyable montage. My side for Friday;

Grant MacArthur Welsh
Swinson Kellock
Barclay Strauss Harley
Niko
Weir
Dunbar Lamont
DTH Hogg Maitland

Nice montage. No idea where they found the shot of Cus playing, but it was nice to see him in there. Wait until our Welsh brothers wake up, Numbers, and they find your suggestion that we will beat them comfortably....

Incidentally, does anyone else think that now we're good at rugby and stuff we should have a logo that wasn't designed by a 4th year standard grade art student?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree with ASBO - you need Nico in at 9 to inject that tempo and get Glasgow some front foot ball in open play. Do that and it allows the others around him to play.

This is the big one, win this and I think it's a home semi-final for Glasgow. Having seen Connacht on Friday, I don't think Glasgow will slip up in that fixture.

1.Grant 2.MacArthur 3.Low 4.Swinson 5.Ryder 6.Harley 7.Barclay 8.Strauss 9.Nico 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Horne 13.Dunbar 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

That's what I would start with.

I dunno. If you can beat them at home so can we. And if you do it, they will have feck all to play for against us.

If we win our last two you will not be able to catch us, as we will have an extra win. You would have to score 2 x BP wins and we would have to have no BPs.

We have Zebre on Sunday..........

Surely if Glasgow beat the Ospreys then they'll be needing to beat you in the lastr game for a chance to compete in the play-offs, so I wouldn't think that'll be an easy game at all.

Still, you're right, Leinster and Ulster are very much in the box seat, with games against Connacht and Zebre at the weekend. Nevermind, Glasgow will just have to beat you on your own patch in the semi-final.....

COME ON GLASGOW!!

Kellock was pretty mince against the Scarlets... he gave away some silly penalties and was totaly at fault for their 1st try. I would like to see Swinson and Ryder start.

I think Swinson and Ryder together is a no brainer. They are just better at rugby, and get on with it, rather than stomping around the park shouting and watching.

Glasgow should start Ryder, Swinson and Harley. At the very least, they won't lose because of a lack of workrate and endeavour.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree with ASBO - you need Nico in at 9 to inject that tempo and get Glasgow some front foot ball in open play. Do that and it allows the others around him to play.

This is the big one, win this and I think it's a home semi-final for Glasgow. Having seen Connacht on Friday, I don't think Glasgow will slip up in that fixture.

1.Grant 2.MacArthur 3.Low 4.Swinson 5.Ryder 6.Harley 7.Barclay 8.Strauss 9.Nico 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Horne 13.Dunbar 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

That's what I would start with.

I dunno. If you can beat them at home so can we. And if you do it, they will have feck all to play for against us.

If we win our last two you will not be able to catch us, as we will have an extra win. You would have to score 2 x BP wins and we would have to have no BPs.

We have Zebre on Sunday..........

Surely if Glasgow beat the Ospreys then they'll be needing to beat you in the lastr game for a chance to compete in the play-offs, so I wouldn't think that'll be an easy game at all.

Still, you're right, Leinster and Ulster are very much in the box seat, with games against Connacht and Zebre at the weekend. Nevermind, Glasgow will just have to beat you on your own patch in the semi-final.....

COME ON GLASGOW!!

You are forgetting.....
Scarlets; Blues (H), Treviso (H) Two pi$$ easy home games for the Scarlets. You beat the Ospreys and they are gone. Even if Scarlets and Leinster just get 1 point wins this weekend the O's chances (should they lose to you) are only mathematical.

If you win even 6 5 v the Os and the other top 5 teams win with no BP we get.

Ulster 75
Leinster 72
Glasgow 71
Scarlets 66
Ospreys 63

They would be depending on Scarlets losing at home to Treviso (not impossible but unlikely given that they would be playing to get a semifinal place and Treviso have feck all to play for) to get in no matter how much they beat us by.

Scarlets get a BP win v Cardiff this w/e, and the Os would need a BP win in the RDS to even get a sniff.

This weekend is do or die for the Ospreys. Beware of them.

Fair enough - I wasn't assuming that the Scarlets would beat Cardiff, and I'm not sure that game will be as easy as you think. Time will tell.

Good end to the season this year. No question the Rabo is improving.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Fair enough - I wasn't assuming that the Scarlets would beat Cardiff, and I'm not sure that game will be as easy as you think. Time will tell.

Good end to the season this year. No question the Rabo is improving.

Cardiff have been improving OK from a "season from hell" AND it's a Welsh Darby so anything can happen. I'd say the Scarlets will take it based on Home advantage and something to play for, but you're right, it COULD go the other way.

Good end to the season is right.

Don't tell the French and English I said this, but I think it could be further "spiced up" by having "some" competition for HC places. Having 10 or 11 go through is not that good for the league at this point.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Don't tell the French and English I said this, but I think it could be further "spiced up" by having "some" competition for HC places. Having 10 or 11 go through is not that good for the league at this point.

I completely agree as it happens, even though Scotland would likely miss out on a place every now and then.

My preferred proposal is that each "nation" has one team/region guaranteed a spot (i.e. the highest finishing side/region), with the top 3/4 (excluding the highest finisher from a particular country) also qualifying. It could add a new dimension, so both Scots teams could qualify, but they would both need to finish in the top 5 in order to do so.

All the Irish regions could qualify, but all four would need to finish in the top 5.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:
You are forgetting.....
Scarlets; Blues (H), Treviso (H) Two pi$$ easy home games for the Scarlets. You beat the Ospreys and they are gone. Even if Scarlets and Leinster just get 1 point wins this weekend the O's chances (should they lose to you) are only mathematical.

If you win even 6 5 v the Os and the other top 5 teams win with no BP we get.

Ulster 75
Leinster 72
Glasgow 71
Scarlets 66
Ospreys 63

They would be depending on Scarlets losing at home to Treviso (not impossible but unlikely given that they would be playing to get a semifinal place and Treviso have feck all to play for) to get in no matter how much they beat us by.

Scarlets get a BP win v Cardiff this w/e, and the Os would need a BP win in the RDS to even get a sniff.

This weekend is do or die for the Ospreys. Beware of them.

Spot on, Jen - it's a massive game for both teams, potentially/likely a last film of the dice for the Os, and a must win for the Warriors if they want any chance at a home semi

Does anyone know what would happen if Leinster and Glasgow finished level on points (which could well happen)?

Think it goes on head2heads, GC? (Desparately looking around for conformation)

If Ospreys win it's gonna be a pretty exciting three horse race for the last two places. If Glasgow win I'm pretty sure they finish third. I think Ospreys will win, actually. They are just that kind of annoying team. Inconsistent but well able to turn up in the big league games at the end of the season.

Should that happen the big question is whether Scarlets get the TBP against Cardiff (if they lose we know the Top 4 anyway). Leinster will definitely, definitely win and Ulster will probably win but it's not a lock.

My tentative prediction for the league standings after this weekend;

Ulster 75
Leinster 73
Glasgow 68
Ospreys 66
Scarlets 66

I hope glasgow win. Ospreys are the fourth seeds from hell. Should Ulster win their next two games would MUCH rather play Scarlets.