Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons, 30 November

                                 
Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sunday 30 November 2014, KO 16:00
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

Live on BBC Alba/SC4

Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 42nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Lloyd Linton, Andrew McMenemy (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Kirk (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)

A. Teams:

I. Glasgow Warriors

15. Peter Murchie
14. Lee Jones
13. Sean Lamont
12. Peter Horne
11. DTH van der Merwe
10. Duncan Weir
9. Niko Matawalu
 
1. Ryan Grant
2. Fraser Brown
3. Jon Welsh
4. Tim Swinson
5. Al Kellock (Captain)
6. Leone Nakarawa
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Ryan Wilson
 
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Gordon Reid
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Josh Strauss
20. Tyrone Holmes
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Connor Braid
23. Richie Vernon

II. Newport Gwent Dragons

15 Geraint Rhys Jones
14 Tom Prydie
13 Ross Wardle
12 Ashley Smith,
11 Matthew Pewtner
10 Dorian Jones
09 Richie Rees

01 Brok Harris
02 Elliot Dee
03 Dan Way
04 Cory Hill
05 Rynard Landman (Captain)
06 James Thomas
07 Nic Cudd
08 Lewis Evans

16 T. Rhys Thomas
17 Phil Price
18 Lloyd Fairbrother
19 Andrew Coombs
20 James Benjamin
21 Jonathan Evans
22 Jason Tovey
23 Hallam Amos

B. Form - head to head:

23 Played 23
8 Wins 13
13 Losses 8
2 Draws 2
48 Tries 42
31 Conversions 31
63 Penalties 56
2 Drop Goals 3
497 Points 449
25 Avg. Age 24

C. Form - last season:

Fri 22 November 2013
Glasgow Warriors 8 - 23 Newport Gwent Dragons
Scotstoun Stadium

Sun 23 February 2014
Newport Gwent Dragons 24 - 23 Glasgow Warriors
Rodney Parade

After our 2nd half shambles against Munster it could be another very long night for us Dragon fans.

You were the only team that beat us home and away last season though, Bedford.

I think (and there's been a few games this season) the game v Glasgow at Dave was the most annoyed I've been this season (thankfully I couldn't make the game Friday). If we couldn't beat you at home playing 14 men, I suspect we'll be on the end of a walloping this weekend.

I think that there will be a backlash following the defeat against the Scarlets.

A huge number of Glasgow players formed part of the side that took Tonga to the cleaners and whilst there will be a lot of sore bodies, Toonie needs to play at least some of our internationals because we simply cannot afford to lose this.

Has anyone seen the post-match injury report for the Scotland match?

Injuries and rests being taken into consideration, my guess would be that we should hopefully have something like:
Murchie, Maitland, Vernon, Horne, Jones, Weir, Matawalu, Grant, Brown, Reid, Eddie, Kellock, Wilson, Fusaro, Strauss; Welsh, De Klerk, McArthur, Ryder, Nakarawa/Holmes, Pyrgos, Hughes, Lyle.
That's 13 out of 15 starters that are internationals, and 4 out of 8 internationals on the bench.
Strong side needed, but the Scotland players will need a bit of a rest, but, the subs (weir and front row) only had minutes, so should start.

Glasgow

Murchie
Jones
Lamont
Horne
DTH

Weir
Niko

Grant
Brown
Welsh
Swinson
Kellock
Naka
Fusaro
Wilson

Bench

MacArthur
Reid
Fargerson
Strauss
Holmes
Pygros
Braid
Vernon

Nakarawa at 6?

That's just mad Ted, so it is.

Decent side. Naka at 6 ahead of Strauss is odd but I guess there's an element of Toonie's mad rotation policy in that, plus he may feel that he can take that chance against the Dragons.

Weir will want to prove a point, as he's rapidly slipping down the pecking order, and I think Horne will want to reassert himself at 12. Both those guys have seen their stock fall, and this is a game where they ought to have a chance to show their stuff. DTH is a class act and Lee Jones will want to celebrate his new contract with a reminder to the Glasgow faithful that when given the ball in some space he can actually play a bit. Solid bench.

It has to be a TBP win here for Glasgow. Get back on track.

Dragons:
15 Geraint Rhys Jones
14 Tom Prydie
13 Ross Wardle
12 Ashley Smith,
11 Matthew Pewtner
10 Dorian Jones
09 Richie Rees

01 Brok Harris
02 Elliot Dee
03 Dan Way
04 Cory Hill
05 Rynard Landman ©
06 James Thomas
07 Nic Cudd
09 Lewis Evans

16 T. Rhys Thomas
17 Phil Price
18 Lloyd Fairbrother
19 Andrew Coombs
20 James Benjamin
21 Jonathan Evans
22 Jason Tovey
23 Hallam Amos

Prydie is back, which will make our lives a little more difficult.
Wardle and Smith looked good last week.

One of my pet hates in life is when (c) automatically converts to copyright.

Our team is very strange. Head Coach's son at ten is not up to much (in my opinion) and the lad brought in to be predominately a tighthead stays on the loose. Our scrum is going to struggle with Way at 3.

What also annoys me is we fell apart v Munster, yet there's only two changes (I think), including one enforced with Tyler Morgan being injured.

Glasgow will walk this. It could get messy.

Risca Rev wrote:Our team is very strange. Head Coach's son at ten is not up to much (in my opinion) and the lad brought in to be predominately a tighthead stays on the loose. Our scrum is going to struggle with Way at 3.

What also annoys me is we fell apart v Munster, yet there's only two changes (I think), including one enforced with Tyler Morgan being injured.

Glasgow will walk this. It could get messy.

Now I'm worried! I think someone said that last year as well.

Glasgow by 50

I'm a bit unsure about GT's selection in the back row.

If I was him, I'd have played Strauss at 8 and benched Wilson. Wilson looked completely out of it vs Scarlets, as if he needed a few more club games and then a bench slot to get fully match fit.

Also a bit worried with the centre pairing, but hopefully Jones and DTH will get good ball from set piece.

Would actually be quite interesing to see Nakarawa on the wing - ala Radike Samo in RWC '11. He's got the skills and pace, and at 6. 6' 109kg would be very hard to stop.

dragon4life wrote:Glasgow by 50

I'd take that.

Why is Nakarawa at 6 so surprising? He has always looked more like a back rower than a lock to me..

The big news are the returnees from injury in the front row and particularly Cusack featuring for Currie, Glasgow could just about be OK for the fixtures against Toulouse, De Kerk starting against them doesn't sit up well with me.

Anyone know how long has The Rev been ruled out for?

Does anyone know how Mike Cusack got on today?
It will be so good to see the mighty Coo back at Scotstoun.

jimbopip wrote:Does anyone know how Mike Cusack got on today?
It will be so good to see the mighty Coo back at Scotstoun.

I know that Currie beat Gala 21-10 and 400 punters were watching at Malleny Park, but that's about it.

I guess we'll need to wait for the Warriors website update.

Apparently Glasgow are giving a free pint to the first 50 fans who turn up at the scout hut in a kilt today. I just know Schiz and the lovely Lady Schiz are even as I type re-entering the bar for the twenty fourth time.
A five pointer on the cards? Can't see why not, we have a lightning fast back three and Schlong at 13 to speed the ball to them.

I see Stevie McColl scored for Gloucester in their win over Irish. Do people know if he's played for Scotland A/7s etc?

Can't think of a better day to slay a dragon, than St Andrews day...

Nematode wrote:I see Stevie McColl scored for Gloucester in their win over Irish. Do people know if he's played for Scotland A/7s etc?

Think he played scotland 7s a few years back. Scottish born and bread aswell. Very very good player who I think will really push on and challenge hogg. Good news for scotland to possibly get a bit more quality depth at full back.

Dragons have started quite well, lets see if they can keep it up

Relatively impressed by the Dragons so far doesn't look like the 2nd worst team of the league.

Watching the game on alba via free view. Tried the red button to get English commentary but doesn't seem to work. Anyone else having the same problem!

English commentary is OK on sky. Glasgow have been quite poor. Dragons have played well. Having flashbacks to last year

That was never squint

cakeordeath wrote:That was never squint

Depends where you look from!

Well for my couch it looked pretty good :-)

Glasgow look a bit lost here...Strauss and his beard have now arrived - all is well.

That was quite a scrum!

This is woeful from Glasgow

We are making hard work of this. We are destroying them in the scrum, just need to keep it simple

Don't worry. Whatever happens in this first half, we will fall apart in the second. It has become our thing

Jon Welsh is literally destroying his opponent

Brok is meant to be a bit of a scrummager too, though I don't get why we are playing him loosehead when I would say we signed him as a tighthead.

I also don't know why we named Tovey on the bench when he was apparently starting all along.

anyone got link pls. outside uk one ?

Risca Rev wrote:Brok is meant to be a bit of a scrummager too, though I don't get why we are playing him loosehead when I would say we signed him as a tighthead.

I also don't know why we named Tovey on the bench when he was apparently starting all along.

Landman going out has made a huge difference to your scrum

Yeah, I can understand that. Was disappointed to hear he went off. He really is a key player for us.

Good defence from the Dragons. Poor from Glasgow

Might try and grab the second half at home (still at work).

Are Dragons good value for a 6-9 lead? How have we been playing?

Biggest question from the match so far, what the hell is that on the back of Niko's head???

GLove39 wrote:Biggest question from the match so far, what the hell is that on the back of Niko's head???

Toonie's handprint, probably?

That was a pretty disappointing half for Glasgow. There is a lack of control there, this is the difference when Niko and Weir are at half back. We are killing them up front and have not got the reward. I fancy it might takes its toll though later in the game. Need to forget about the five points though and just concentrate on winning the game.

I am sure we will see Strauss on soon in the second half, probably Henry as well. Someone needs to take the reins and give us some control

Great we are winning at HT. Hopefully we can break the current run and win the second half too.

Glad to hear we are having a go and great to hear of our defence at the end of the half.

Dragons have played well. Shut down Glasgow, quick up off the line with a suspicion of off-side. Glasgow are doing their best headless chicken impersonation, although a lot of that is due to the Dragons

George Carlin wrote:Might try and grab the second half at home (still at work).

Are Dragons good value for a 6-9 lead? How have we been playing?

Not a great game at all. We have not taken any of our chances, need to make the most of being a man up for the first 10 of the second half. Dragons showing a lot of guts and spirit, but we really should not be struggling like this.

The journo from our local rag reckons it was a poor decision to yellow Richie?

Chris Kirwan wrote:Stinker of a decision to YC Richie Rees, who was on the wing away from a breakdown offence

Yeah Risca, I think it should have been your No.1