HC, Pool 2, Round 1: Toulon v Glasgow Warriors

Toulon v Glasgow Warriors
 
13 October 2013, 16:00 local (15:00 BST)
Stade Félix Mayol, Toulon
 
Live on France 2
 
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Small (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
 
A. Matchday Squads
 
1. Toulon
From:
Forwards: S. Armitage, Botha, Castrogiovanni, Chiocci, Felsina, Fernandez Lobbe, Hayman, Masoe, Noirot, Orioli, Rossouw, J. Smith, Van Niekerk, Williams.
 
Backs: D. Armitage, Bastareaud, Claassens, Giteau, Mermoz, Michalak, Mitchell, D. Smith, Tuisova, Wilkinson.
  
2. Glasgow
 
 Name/DOB/Position/Height/Weight/Played/Points
 
[th][/th][th][/th][th][/th][th][/th][th][/th][th][/th][th][/th][th][/th]

Ascarate	Gabriel	20/10/87	Centre	1.85 m (6' 1")	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)	0	0
Bennett	Mark	03/02/93	Centre	1.83 m (6' 0")	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)	0	0
Brown	Fraser	20/06/89	Hooker	1.82 m (6' 0")	102 kg (16 st 0 lb)	0	0
Bryce	Kevin	07/09/88	Hooker	1.86 m (6' 1")	124 kg (19 st 7 lb)	0	0
Cusiter	Chris	13/06/82	Scrum half	1.78 m (5' 10")	84 kg (13 st 3 lb)	10	5
Dunbar	Alex	23/04/90	Centre	1.91 m (6' 3")	102 kg (16 st 0 lb)	3 (1)	0
Eddie	James	03/06/85	Back row	1.93 m (6' 4")	105 kg (16 st 7 lb)	4 (11)	0
Fusaro	Chris	21/07/89	Back row	1.80 m (5' 11")	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)	4 (8)	0
Grant	Ryan	08/10/85	Loose-Head Prop	1.85 m (6' 1")	109 kg (17 st 2 lb)	8 (7)	0
Gray	Jonny	14/03/94	Lock	1.98 m (6' 6")	119 kg (18 st 10 lb)	0	0
Hall	Doug	24/09/80	Hooker	1.83 m (6' 0")	104 kg (16 st 5 lb)	18 (9)	5
Harley	Robert	26/05/90	Back row	1.97 m (6' 6")	110 kg (17 st 4 lb)	13 (2)	5
Hogg	Stuart	24/06/92	Fullback	1.84 m (6' 0")	88 kg (13 st 12 lb)	10 (1)	5
Holmes	Tyrone	15/04/86	Back row	1.87 m (6' 2")	102 kg (16 st 0 lb)	0	0
Jackson	Ruaridh	12/02/88	Outside half	1.80 m (5' 11")	75 kg (11 st 11 lb)	14 (6)	109
Jericevich	Peter	13/02/88	Scrum half	1.78 m (5' 10")	80 kg (12 st 8 lb)	0	0
Kalman	Ed	07/12/82	Tight-Head Prop	1.88 m (6' 2")	119 kg (18 st 10 lb)	6 (19)	0
Kellock	Al	14/06/81	Lock	2.05 m (6' 9")	108 kg (17 st 0 lb)	35	10
Lamont	Sean	15/01/81	Centre/Wing	1.88 m (6' 2")	100 kg (15 st 10 lb)	12	40
Low	Moray	28/11/84	Tight-Head Prop	1.88 m (6' 2")	115 kg (18 st 1 lb)	25 (5)	0
MacArthur	Pat	27/04/87	Hooker	1.88 m (6' 2")	102 kg (16 st 0 lb)	8 (8)	0
Maitland	Sean	14/09/88	Fullback/Wing	1.89 m (6' 2")	97 kg (15 st 3 lb)	3 (1)	0
Matawalu	Niko	08/03/89	Scrum half	1.73 m (5' 8")	80 kg (12 st 8 lb)	2 (4)	10
McGuigan	Byron	20/08/89	Centre/Wing	1.93 m (6' 4")	92 kg (14 st 6 lb)	2 (1)	0
Murchie	Pete	07/01/86	Fullback	1.90 m (6' 3")	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)	9 (5)	0
Nakarawa	Leone	04/02/88	Lock	1.99 m (6' 6")	109 kg (17 st 2 lb)	0	0
Pyrgos	Henry	09/07/89	Scrum half	1.78 m (5' 10")	80 kg (12 st 8 lb)	5 (7)	5
Reid	Gordon	04/03/87	Loose-Head Prop	1.88 m (6' 2")	117 kg (18 st 5 lb)	2 (4)	0
Ryder	Tom	21/02/85	Lock	1.96 m (6' 5")	105 kg (16 st 7 lb)	5 (8)	0
Seymour	Tommy	01/07/88	Wing	1.83 m (6' 0")	95 kg (14 st 13 lb)	8	5
Strauss	Josh	23/10/86	Back row	2.00 m (6' 7")	114 kg (17 st 13 lb)	5	10
Swinson	Tim	17/02/87	Lock	1.93 m (6' 4")	111 kg (17 st 6 lb)	4 (2)	0
van der Merwe	DTH	28/04/86	Wing	1.82 m (6' 0")	92 kg (14 st 6 lb)	11 (1)	15
Vernon	Richie	07/07/87	Back row	1.96 m (6' 5")	102 kg (16 st 0 lb)	11 (3)	0
Weir	Duncan	10/05/91	Outside half	1.76 m (5' 9")	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)	6 (3)	64
Welsh	Jon	13/10/86	Tight-Head Prop	1.85 m (6' 1")	123 kg (19 st 5 lb)	14 (3)	0
Wight	Scott	05/11/85	Outside half	1.91 m (6' 3")	87 kg (13 st 9 lb)	1 (4)	12
Yanuyanutawa	Jerry	10/04/85	Loose-Head Prop	1.82 m (6' 0")	110 kg (17 st 4 lb)	0	0

 
B. Heineken Cup Statistics
 
1. Toulon
 

Played	16
Wins	12
Draws	0
Losses	4
Total Points For	415
Total Points Against	289
Total Tries For	40
Total Tries Against	25
Total Conversions For	31
Total Conversions Against	19
Total Penalty Goals For	48
Total Penalty Goals Against	42
Total Drop Goals For	3
Total Drop Goals Against	0

 

Most Appearances	15 (Jonny Wilkinson)
Top Points Scorer	178 (Jonny Wilkinson)
Top Try Scorer	4 (Delon Armitage)
Biggest Win	62 - 0 (v Sale Sharks 2012)
Heaviest Defeat	18 - 45 (v Munster Rugby 2010)
Most Consecutive Wins	5
Most Consecutive Defeats	2
Most Points In A Match	62 (v Sale Sharks 2012)
Most Tries In A Match	9 (v Sale Sharks 2012)
Most Conversions In A Match	7 (v Sale Sharks 2012)
Most Penalty Goals In A Match	7 (v Saracens 2013)
Most Drop Goals In A Match	1 (v Munster Rugby 2010)
Highest Attendance	55000
Total Home Attendance	305728

 
2. Glasgow
 

Played	85
Wins	26
Draws	2
Losses	57
Total Points For	1665
Total Points Against	2405
Total Tries For	159
Total Tries Against	275
Total Conversions For	112
Total Conversions Against	182
Total Penalty Goals For	210
Total Penalty Goals Against	212
Total Drop Goals For	7
Total Drop Goals Against	10

 

Most Appearances	41 (Gordon Bulloch)
Top Points Scorer	388 (Tommy Hayes)
Top Try Scorer	10 (Tommy Hayes)
Biggest Win	33 - 11 (v Gloucester Rugby 2009)
Heaviest Defeat	19 - 90 (v Leicester Tigers 1997)
Most Consecutive Wins	3
Most Consecutive Defeats	13
Most Points In A Match	50 (v Bourgoin 2006)
Most Tries In A Match	7 (v Bourgoin 2006)
Most Conversions In A Match	6 (v Bourgoin 2006)
Most Penalty Goals In A Match	7 (v Cardiff Blues 2001)
Most Drop Goals In A Match	1 (v Benetton Treviso 1998)
Highest Attendance	18720
Total Home Attendance	489762

 
C. Teams:
 
1. Toulon

 
15. Delon Armitage
14. Josua Tuisova
13. Maxime Mermoz
12. Matthew Giteau
11. David Smith
10. Jonny Wilkinson (capt)
9. Michael Claassens

1. Emmanuel Felsina
2. Jean-Charles Orioli
3. Martin Castrogiovanni
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Ali Williams
6. Juan Fernandez Lobbe
7. Joe van Niekerk
8. Chris Masoe

16. Benjamin Noirot
17. Xavier Chiocci
18. Carl Hayman
19. Steffon Armitage
20. Mathieu Bastareaud
21. Drew Mitchell
22. Frederic Michalak
23. Danie Rossouw
 
2. Glasgow
 
 
15. Sean Maitland
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Mark Bennett
12. Alex Dunbar
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Ruaridh Jackson
9. Henry Pyrgos

1. Ryan Grant
2. Dougie Hall
3. Jon Welsh
4. Jonny Gray
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Tim Swinson
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Josh Strauss

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Moray Low
18. Ed Kalman
19. James Eddie
20. Richie Vernon
21. Duncan Weir
22. Byron McGuigan
23. DTH van der Merwe
 
D. Parliamo Glasgow:
 
Alphabetty Spaghetti - D.T.H. van der Merwe, wing
Angel - Gabriel Ascarate, centre
Angela - Jon Welsh, prop
Barry - Byron McGuigan, wing
Big Boab - (see Ginger Tackle Monster, the)
Big Mike - (see Coo, the)
Big Naka - Leone Nakarawa, lock/loosie
Bluto - Josh Strauss, loosie/no.8
Centre, the - (see Lesser Messiah, the)
Coo, the - Michael Cusack, prop
Cooseetah - (see Cus)
Cus - Chris Cusiter, scrum half
DTH - (see Alphabetty Spaghetti)
Flippy - (see Toonie)
Fozzy - Christopher Fusaro, loosie
Furra Lineeeee - Peter Horne, centre
Ginger Tackle Monster, the - Rob Harley, loosie
Guns - Tim Swinson, lock
Henners - Henry Pyrgos, scrum half
Hoggy - Stuart Hogg, full back/wing/centre
Ickle Jon - Jonny Gray, lock
Jedi - James Eddie, loosie
Lesser Messiah, the - Richie Vernon, loosie/no.8
Mark of Nazareth - (see Messiah, the)
Meatball, the - Duncan Weir, fly half
Messiah, the/ - Mark Bennett, centre
Niko - Nikola Matawalu, scrum half
Niko's Mate - Jerry Yanuyanutawa, prop
No Maits - Sean Maitland, wing
Rhubarb - Ruaridh Jackson, fly half
Ruck Inspector, the - Alastair Kellock, lock
Schlong - Sean Lamont, centre/wing
Sherlock - Tyrone Holmes, loosie
Shrek - Gordon Reid, prop
Toonie - Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE, head coach
Wee P - Pat MacArthur, hooker
Weegie from Fiji, the - (see Niko)

George, you've missed player's favourite pet.......other than that pretty comprehensive.  

Anyone seen much of Toulon this year and how they are playing.....see they are on top of the league, but with a few losses.

Always something for me to learn in those Scottish threads   

when I googled "Buckfast" to find out what kind of beverage it was, I got the following article by the telegraph :
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100023377/buckfast-tonic-wine-is-a-potent-cocktail-thats-linked-with-violence-so-why-do-the-monks-put-so-much-caffeine-into-it/

sounds frightening and no wonder why glasgow is top of the Rabo...

anyway as mentionned elsewhere, Toulon has not yet hit 3rd gear and look more like a old diesel truck than the ruthless machine they were at the start of last season. Wilkinson has been surprisingly average recently missing some kicks that he normally slot and been rested/dropped. they have an issue at scrum half with tillous bordes and michalak injured/suspended while Classens is not convinving anyone(they signed kockott for next year). their forwards seem slow as well...not hitting rucks very quickly. Giteau is the main threat, nullify him and you have an opening. it's in toulon though so still fancy them to win although the game should be tighter than a ducks'a$$.

Rory Lamont summed up the tactic needed..


“........that can work in Glasgow’s favour. It is an intimidating place, with a very gladiatorial feel, but if Glasgow can start well it’s funny how that passion can turn around and the Toulon players will feel glad of the big fence around the pitch!”

Thanks WC, so potentially some chinks of light especially in open play.......worried about scrum time though esp. given the performance against scarlets. First half Glasgow should have been further clear but set piece made for squeaky bum in the second half.

Trying to work out whether a short Grant works against a tall Hayman, but on balance would go for Yanu Hall and Welsh, for beef and power at scrum time.

Total, know what you mean but I'm not sure Niko's mate brings as much around the park as Grant. Also, at this level is the scrum not meant to be a finely tuned collective rather than a front row and five other blokes? It is interesting that our pack seems less cohesive than at the end of last season. They are playing good rugby but the set piece has not really looked dominant in any of the games so far. The French will look to take us on in the tight before going all exuberant so it's vital we can front up there. Maybe that's the answer; just pick the five most bloody-minded, awkward buggers we have. So, a front five of; Harley, Harley, Harley, Swinson and Harley.

Glasgow are on fire but gees that Toulon pack is huge. Can't see past a home win.

Absolutely, scrum is the sum of parts - however appears to me (a particularly uneducated eye mind you) that Grant under new laws, either he gets himself in the right position and makes really good progress going forward with his pals behind OR goes to deck pretty much at the hit. Great if he providing the platform for doing the go forward bit, but by the same token if it goes wrong then the chance of a yellow.

Presuming Hayman's playing and will have done his homework, would prefer solidity for 50mins from Yanu at set piece than potentially 40 mins out of the 50 Grant is meant to play (albeit offering more around the park) but with a Toulon teams with a man advantage.

All hypothetical of course, Townsend will likely go for the Harley, Harley, Harley, Swinson and Harley combination.

Does anyone know when the HC squads were finalised? I see Nakarawa is in our HC squad, yet he no longer appears to be in the country. Its been reported in the Fijian press that he is back home and part of their training get together, for home based players.

I think a couple of the squad players are erroneous actually, Dot.

I couldn't pick Peter Jericevich out of a police line-up but apparently he is in our squad.

Somebody more intelligent than me (quite a wide category of individuals) will be hopefully opine on what the current rules are for finalising squads.

George Carlin wrote:I think a couple of the squad players are erroneous actually, Dot.

I couldn't pick Peter Jericevich out of a police line-up but apparently he is in our squad.

Somebody more intelligent than me (quite a wide category of individuals) will be hopefully opine on what the current rules are for finalising squads.

Jericevich was on the firnges of the squad a couple of years back. I assume he is in as cover for Scrum Half, where we usually carry four.

Suppose the question is, has Nakarawa gone back because they see him playing no part over the next few weeks or has he gone back on a more full time basis?

Seems strange to me that we would sign him and he would not even get to play some Club Rugby here.

Its still early I know, but I must say but so far I have been pretty under whelmed by all our new signings.

Sherlock put in a good shift a couple of games ago and Cus has mentioned in interviews that he is a dead-eye professional.

Still amazes me that Scott Wight is even involved with this team. He's a lot like Ed Milliband or stuffed crust pizza. I just don't see the point.

1 Grant
2 MacArthur
3 Welsh
4 Kellock
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fussaro
8 Strauss

9 Cusiter

10 Jackson
11 Lamont
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett
14 DTH
15 Maitland

16 Yanuyanutawa
17 Hall
18 Low
19 Gray
20 Vernon
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Hogg

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:1 Grant
2 MacArthur
3 Welsh
4 Kellock
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fussaro
8 Strauss

9 Cusiter

10 Jackson
11 Lamont
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett
14 DTH
15 Maitland

16 Yanuyanutawa
17 Hall
18 Low
19 Gray
20 Vernon
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Hogg

Asbo, is this the announced time team or your own brand of wishful thinking? I think Henners is in the squad and was rested at PYS. Niko looked much more creative than Cooseater. Seymour has had more game time than DTH so may be said to be more match hardened.  Other than that you may be spot on.

jimbopip wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:1 Grant
2 MacArthur
3 Welsh
4 Kellock
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fussaro
8 Strauss

9 Cusiter

10 Jackson
11 Lamont
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett
14 DTH
15 Maitland

16 Yanuyanutawa
17 Hall
18 Low
19 Gray
20 Vernon
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Hogg

Asbo, is this the announced time team or your own brand of wishful thinking? I think Henners is in the squad and was rested at PYS. Niko looked much more creative than Cooseater. Seymour has had more game time than DTH so may be said to be more match hardened.  Other than that you may be spot on.

I'd be stunned if Pyrgos gets into the matchday squad ahead of Cusiter or Niko. He's a far inferior player to both, goal-kicking aside.

I reckon the only way Glasgow will win this match is to keep the set piece as strong as possible and play at a very high tempo for 80 minutes. Toulon are powerful, but they're also an ageing team that has struggled against teams playing quick rugby so far this season. Cusiter and Niko are both well-suited to high-tempo rugby. I'd start with Niko and bring Chris on later in the game if it's tight.

jimbopip wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:1 Grant
2 MacArthur
3 Welsh
4 Kellock
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fussaro
8 Strauss

9 Cusiter

10 Jackson
11 Lamont
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett
14 DTH
15 Maitland

16 Yanuyanutawa
17 Hall
18 Low
19 Gray
20 Vernon
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Hogg

Asbo, is this the announced time team or your own brand of wishful thinking? I think Henners is in the squad and was rested at PYS. Niko looked much more creative than Cooseater. Seymour has had more game time than DTH so may be said to be more match hardened.  Other than that you may be spot on.

Entirely my delusions

Harley, Harley, Harley, Swinson and Harley. Now that would be some Law firm.
"What do you charge?"
"Whatever we want...Pal"

Ha ha, that's awesome Jim.

jimbopip wrote:Harley, Harley, Harley, Swinson and Harley. Now that would be some Law firm.
"What do you charge?"
"Whatever we want...Pal"

 Reminds me of my favourite Punch cartoon:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:1 Grant
2 MacArthur
3 Welsh
4 Kellock
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fussaro
8 Strauss

9 Cusiter

10 Jackson
11 Lamont
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett
14 DTH
15 Maitland

16 Yanuyanutawa
17 Hall
18 Low
19 Gray
20 Vernon
21 Niko
22 Weir
23 Hogg

Asbo, is this the announced time team or your own brand of wishful thinking? I think Henners is in the squad and was rested at PYS. Niko looked much more creative than Cooseater. Seymour has had more game time than DTH so may be said to be more match hardened.  Other than that you may be spot on.

Entirely my delusions

ASBO,

think I would replace MacArthur with Hall for the first 60, then bring on Wee P for the final 20 when play is more broken. I really should not be giving you tactical advice given our Round 2 opponents and your flip flop loyalties  

jimbopip wrote:Harley, Harley, Harley, Swinson and Harley. Now that would be some Law firm.
"What do you charge?"
"Whatever we want...Pal"

Jimbo, playing that game I would go for Strauss, Strauss, Swinson, Strauss and Harley. But you knew I would say that of course !  

To put a slightly more sensible hat on; Saint Lineen the stern made the Weege into a team who were damned hard to beat, Toonie morphed that into Weege 2- a team that played flowing attacking rugby but crucially came unstuck away to Leinster. Now we might be seeing Weege 3- not as pretty but able to conjure up wins on a regular basis. Will that be enough on Sunday?
I think it may well be a case of putting out his fifteen most bloody-minded in your face "Are you looking at me?" characters and lighting the blue touchpaper. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see who you think would feature in this scenario.
N.B. Schiz only ONE Bluto.

I would be tempted to play Holmes instead of Fusaro, only for his physicality.

Not sure about Yanuyanutawa scrummaging, haven't seen enough of him but my ideal front row would have been Welsh, Hall, Cusack.
Moray Low has been so poor so far i would have Kalman ahead of him.

Physicality Jimbo mmmm.....here goes :-
Hogg
Maitland
DTH 
Lamont
Dunbar
Jackson
Niko aka Mr Stampy
Strauss
Fusaro
Harley
Kellock
Swinson
Welsh
Hall
Grant

Bench: Yaya, Jedi, Murchie, Gray, MacArthur, Holmes, Seymour

Bunch of psychos - we could recall the mad mental Bernie Stortoni but that might be a step too far:boxing: 

Has to be 1. Grant 2. Hall 3. Welsh for me.

Dougie is about 10kg heavier than Pat and we'll need that if facing down the likes of Sheridan and Castro.

Will be Kellock and Swinson as lock, which is fine although obviously having Cusack and Ryder in the pack is the optimal .

Would also have no problem giving Sherlock the first 50 minutes at 7 before sending on his Fozzyness. Holmes made some crucial hits in (I think it was) the Leinster game.

Ok but remember Fozzy is a feisty wee fella - ask Scott MacLeod who towered over him and foolishly started boxing with him in the 1872 a few seasons ago. They both got red carded which saved MacLeod from a real doing !

Niko has to start for me. Glasgow will not grind Toulon down - they need to get the runners on the ball and score some points. Getting tore into them early on. Niko is the man to do this.

English match officials for our game - Greg Garner - I don't know him. Anyone from the Aviva like to comment ?

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:English match officials for our game - Greg Garner - I don't know him. Anyone from the Aviva like to comment ?

 

Toulon could field a scary scary team. It's almost like a world XV they could have!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:English match officials for our game - Greg Garner - I don't know him. Anyone from the Aviva like to comment ?

 

That good eh - must be better than Clownshoes and Co from across the sea !

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:English match officials for our game - Greg Garner - I don't know him. Anyone from the Aviva like to comment ?

 

That good eh - must be better than Clownshoes and Co from across the sea !

True that, nobody is as bad as Clownshoes or the Gibbon

Don't know........ Vivarini was certainly making a pitch for clownshoes' crown during the Glasgow/Scarlets match.

Then Clownshoes showed him he's still the Daddy on Sunday; Blues Embra

Because one thing for sure is we will give away a lot of pens for Wilko to kick over unless our discipline is a lot better than it has been.   Woeful on Saturday v Scarlets:furious:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Because one thing for sure is we will give away a lot of pens for Wilko to kick over unless our discipline is a lot better than it has been.   Woeful on Saturday v Scarlets:furious:

Famous last words, C21st, but yer man, Saint Johnnie, has not been playing well, and has been missing kicks - sure, he'll play a dream now!

Glasgow's defence has been superb for the past couple of seasons but this is a major examination, especially for the pack.  Personally I think they are good enough, withstood 30 solid minutes on their line against a powerful Ulster side and kept Leinster out for 70 minutes before snatching victory.  Need the likes of Grant, Swinson, Harley, Strauss to be physical (Jnr Gray would help) and get off the line quickly to stop their big carriers. 

If they can stop them, can they score points?  The set-piece is in for a big test, so it's difficult to see Glasgow dictating where the game is played consistently.  Hence why I think you have to start Weir, he's comfortably the best goal-kicker at Glasgow and he's got good range.  If Glasgow are to beat Toulon, they can't leave 9/12 points out on the field.

Will have to score tries too because they will, regardless of how well Glasgow defend.  It's unlikely that our pack will be able to over-power them in attack, so Glasgow need to find the ignition switch quick and get their attacking game going again.  So Niko has to start at 9, if he plays well he could win Glasgow the game.  Doesn't matter who the team is, if there's a super quick Fijian with a taste for running and disregard for risk, he'll make things happen and there is ample threat outside to finish it off.

I have a misguided confidence developing.

Me too.

In fact, signing Niko up to a three year deal well before this game could turn out to be a move of epic shrewdness.

Guys we have gone intothe Heino with confidence before and it has blown up in our faces - caution required here.

Glasgow are the form team in the Rabo right now. They should be scared of no one.

Schitz, I don't really think we'll win, but I think we'll perform.

At this stage, I'd be happy with that.

TJ wrote:Niko has to start for me.   Glasgow will not grind Toulon down - they need to get the runners on the ball and score some points.  Getting tore into them early on.  Niko is the man to do this.  

reallybored wrote:So Niko has to start at 9

Agree with this, Cusiter might seem the more sensible option but we need to threaten more in attack to have a chance here I feel. Even though his decision making is a bit erratic and he throws the occasional wild pass, his attacking abilities more than make up for it and his defence is pretty good too. Not only does he create tries with his running, but even when he passes to the backs, the defence is having to keep such a close eye on him that it gives the 10 that split second of extra time to work with, and that's why Glasgow scored so many tries last year. Past performance shows that Glasgow score tries when Niko is at 9, and even a team with the quality of Toulon will struggle to couteract a player like him.

Glasgow with the handicap is a great bet,+14 points at 10/11.I'll be lumping on that one and having a small bit of the 7/1 for them to win.

Great value.

Getting rather schizoid about Sunday. (Schiz is getting rather Toonie) If Ladyboys and Munster can do well in Europe why can't we? But Toulon are massive. So, it's one thing or t'other: death or glory. Well, no one will die unless, Harley is involved, obviously. So can we win? Yes and yes again. Will we win? Probably not. Or possibly not. Let just get tore in. The heavens won't fall.

Aye well I know. I've been here with The Warriors before and thought this is our Heino year and it never happened - sure we give someone a cuffing when its all too late but I intend to remain grounded - until 1601 hrs Sunday when I will be the usual nervous wreck but nonetheless supporting the team.

WARRIORS - WHATEVER IT TAKES

    

Having not been beaten at Stade Ernest Wallon in two years and 15 matches, and with a quarter final in their sights, Toulouse were the odds on favourites.

That was 4 years ago when Glasgow registred a certain famous victory.
Back then Dan parks was even playing so cant see why It could not happen again:thumbsup: 

Rugby World have written us off with the comment 'Toulon to take the spoils'. They were bigging up Giteau too. Bob Harley pse note !

I want the ginger tackle monster to play and to rub their noses in it. toulon will lose if we do this as they don't have a ginger tackle monster

Well one thing for sure Hoggy is oot- broken bone in his wrist so may not even make the Exeter game - or Munster for that matter.  

Maitland
Seymour
Lamont
Dunbar
DTH VDM
Weir
Niko
Strauss
Fusaro
Harley
Kellock
Swinson
Welsh
Hall
Grant       for starters

Yaya, MacArthur, Kalman, Eddie, Gray, Cusiter, Jacko, Bennett

for me anyhoo !!!

Swap for Lamont, Lamont to wing, and Seymour to the bench, or indeed Ascarate, and we have a deal