Champions Cup Pool 3: Racing 92 v Glasgow Warriors, 9 January

        
Racing 92 v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 9 January 2016
KO 14:00
Stade Yves-Du-Manoir, Colombes

Live on Sky Sports

Referee John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch Judge 1 Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Touch Judge 2 Nigel Correll (Ireland)
Fourth Official Johann Lobregat (France)
TMO Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Assessor Michel Lamoulie (France)
Citing Commissioner Peter Ferguson (Ireland)

A. Head to Head

#These teams are meeting for the first time.

B. Recent European Form

Racing 92

18/12/15: Saints 9 - 9 Racing 92
12/12/15: Racing 92 33 - 3 Saints
21/11/15: Scarlets 12 - 29 Racing 92

Glasgow Warriors

19/12/15: Scarlets 6 - 9 Glasgow
12/12/15: Glasgow 43 - 6 Scarlets
21/11/15: Glasgow 15 - 26 Saints

C. Teams

Racing 92

[tbc]

Glasgow Warriors

[tbc]

My only hope for this game is that Glasgow have intentionally been playing poorly for a while to lull Racing into a false sense of security before hammering them!

Where is that emoticon of a bloke chasing a butterfly.....

Glasgow needs to start with the same front 5 that started against Edinburgh this weekend. Gordon Reid looks injured though and the mistake to make would be to start with Ryan Grant where the game would be lost before a ball was kicked. Alex Allan or Yanuyanutawa must start.

I fear, i fear, I fear

This is a pretty scary prospect for Glasgow, particularly off the back of those two defeats to the mighty Edinburgh.

The Tombola could do a lot worse than to rest some key players for this one, other than giving game time to returning players needing it. There will be more important battles to come, in particular that game against Northhampton.

1.Allan 2.Brown 3.Fagerson 4.Swinson 5.Peterson 6.Wilson 7.Fusaro 8.Strauss 9.Price 10.Weir 11.Lamont 12.Johnson 13.Vernon 14.Jones 15.Murchie

I think defeat is inevitable frankly, with Glasgow as likely to pull off a shock with that XV than any other. It really depends on how well Racing play. What is clear is that Stuart Hogg needs a rest, and Murchie could use a game to get back up to speed.

That team would be completely annihilated, but then again I'm not sure if the current strongest 23 would do much better given injuries and form so might be best to 'throw' this one and target Saints.

Hogg absolutely needs a break though, and from a Scotland PoV it would be good to see Dunbar back.

Dan Carter v Duncan 'meatball' Weir

RDW_Scotland wrote:That team would be completely annihilated, but then again I'm not sure if the current strongest 23 would do much better given injuries and form so might be best to 'throw' this one and target Saints.

Hogg absolutely needs a break though, and from a Scotland PoV it would be good to see Dunbar back.

Dan Carter v Duncan 'meatball' Weir

Agree that the team would lose. I just don't think Glasgow can achieve a better outcome with the first choice XV and that this is a good opportunity for key players like Russell, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg to have a much needed week off.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree that the team would lose. I just don't think Glasgow can achieve a better outcome with the first choice XV and that this is a good opportunity for key players like Russell, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg to have a much needed week off.

I think there is at least a LBP to be taken there provided Glasgow send a decent pack and good kicker. Also Racing only needs 4 points to keep going not to hammer Glasgow. From what I saw from racing last Saturday if you do the basics right and your defense is holding tight there is opportunities to score points as they sometimes lack indiscipline. that said the weather was pretty poor (rain and wind) so didn't help them to play error free expansive rugby.

whocares wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree that the team would lose. I just don't think Glasgow can achieve a better outcome with the first choice XV and that this is a good opportunity for key players like Russell, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg to have a much needed week off.

I think there is at least a LBP to be taken there provided Glasgow send a decent pack and good kicker. Also Racing only needs 4 points to keep going not to hammer Glasgow. From what I saw from racing last Saturday if you do the basics right and your defense is holding tight there is opportunities to score points as they sometimes lack indiscipline. that said the weather was pretty poor (rain and wind) so didn't help them to play error free expansive rugby.

Well Duncan Weir is certainly a kicker.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

whocares wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agree that the team would lose. I just don't think Glasgow can achieve a better outcome with the first choice XV and that this is a good opportunity for key players like Russell, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg to have a much needed week off.

I think there is at least a LBP to be taken there provided Glasgow send a decent pack and good kicker. Also Racing only needs 4 points to keep going not to hammer Glasgow. From what I saw from racing last Saturday if you do the basics right and your defense is holding tight there is opportunities to score points as they sometimes lack indiscipline. that said the weather was pretty poor (rain and wind) so didn't help them to play error free expansive rugby.

Well Duncan Weir is certainly a kicker.

He's a dead eye kicker.


Wait sorry, that should've been dead ball kicker.

Glasgow need to focus on securing a top 6 spot in the pro 12 and on getting their form back rather than fancifully chase the Champions Cup.

I'd rest Hogg but I still think they need to put a half decent team out.

Nematode you're still in with a chance of reaching the KO stages, why feel the need to give up so soon?

In the unlikely scenario Glasgow get to the KO stages (Northampton and Racing are too good IMO), what is the benefit? Do you risk key players to get to the last 10 or so but just miss the top 6 in the pro12?

Glasgow are not playing well right now and there are about 7 teams who can seriously compete for the top 6 (Scarlets & Connacht - both high up the leaderboard, Ulster, Leinster, Munster, Ospreys, Edinburgh). The run in for Glasgow is pretty horrible too.

I just feel it would be a nightmare for Glasgow to go from winning the Pro12 to just missing the KO stages but in the process coming 7th.

mikey_dragon wrote:Nematode you're still in with a chance of reaching the KO stages, why feel the need to give up so soon?

I don't think it's giving up, but rather focusing on the more winnable games. Racing in Glasgow (once they've qualified) is a far better opportunity for points and then it's all going to come down to the key contest - Northampton at the Gardens. I don't see this one as a must win to get to the KOs, and in fact I genuinely don't see Glasgow winning in France whatever they do. Glasgow have had a couple of brutal back to back defeats, and having formed the nucleus of the Scotland World Cup effort have a group of players who need a break. I think this is the game to do it.

I agree.

I think some players are just not mentally sharp enough atm and need a rest.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Nematode you're still in with a chance of reaching the KO stages, why feel the need to give up so soon?

I don't think it's giving up, but rather focusing on the more winnable games. Racing in Glasgow (once they've qualified) is a far better opportunity for points and then it's all going to come down to the key contest - Northampton at the Gardens. I don't see this one as a must win to get to the KOs, and in fact I genuinely don't see Glasgow winning in France whatever they do. Glasgow have had a couple of brutal back to back defeats, and having formed the nucleus of the Scotland World Cup effort have a group of players who need a break. I think this is the game to do it.

Alternatively it could be just the game to kick start their season. Sides that win championships don't give up on games, especially when they are in the mix. Plenty of teams have won away this year against fancy opponents and Glasgow have done well on the road in the past. In a way there is no pressure on them for this one, no-one is expecting them to do well. Maybe the French may think they only need to turn up.

If you go into a game thinking you are going to lose, it will soon become a self fulfilling prophecy. We did see a few glimpses of hope in the first half. I am still a believer and it is going to click at some stage.

Edinburgh won at Racing with a last gap Goodman drop goal. I think Glasgow can win too as their playing style can trouble them but they will need to click and field their strongest possible pack although when Puafisi is your 1st line TH and Ryan Grant is your biggest earner at the club there is not much hope i concede.

Am encourages by WhoCares' kind/optimistic words but I would much rather rest players for this game and focus our energies entirely on the home return and against those pesky Saints at the Gardens. If we can hang around and get a LBP out of this, I will be thrilled.

Last season, I would have said our defence could deliver this result for us.

This season, nobody can be confident it will happen.

BigGee wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Nematode you're still in with a chance of reaching the KO stages, why feel the need to give up so soon?

I don't think it's giving up, but rather focusing on the more winnable games. Racing in Glasgow (once they've qualified) is a far better opportunity for points and then it's all going to come down to the key contest - Northampton at the Gardens. I don't see this one as a must win to get to the KOs, and in fact I genuinely don't see Glasgow winning in France whatever they do. Glasgow have had a couple of brutal back to back defeats, and having formed the nucleus of the Scotland World Cup effort have a group of players who need a break. I think this is the game to do it.

Alternatively it could be just the game to kick start their season. Sides that win championships don't give up on games, especially when they are in the mix. Plenty of teams have won away this year against fancy opponents and Glasgow have done well on the road in the past. In a way there is no pressure on them for this one, no-one is expecting them to do well. Maybe the French may think they only need to turn up.

If you go into a game thinking you are going to lose, it will soon become a self fulfilling prophecy. We did see a few glimpses of hope in the first half. I am still a believer and it is going to click at some stage.

So which game would you suggest that Glasgow rest the likes of Bennett and Hogg, or do they simply play each and every game this season, including all the Scotland fixtures in the 6 Nations?

As I said, I'm not giving up on the game, just resting a few first choice players because I think if Glasgow were to lose this game it wouldn't be fatal to their qualification chances. Edinburgh are in the same quandry at the moment, when to rest players?

George Carlin wrote:Am encourages by WhoCares' kind/optimistic words but I would much rather rest players for this game and focus our energies entirely on the home return and against those pesky Saints at the Gardens. If we can hang around and get a LBP out of this, I will be thrilled.

Last season, I would have said our defence could deliver this result for us.

This season, nobody can be confident it will happen.

If you wish to self-harm, you should watch the highlights of the first leg of the 1872 Cup. At one point Jack Cuthbert saunters through the Glasgow defence and gobbles up half the pitch. In sum, I think you're right to query the Glasgow defence at the moment. Edinburgh are one of the most limited attacking teams out there, and we still made dents.

To be fair when Jack's having a good game (which he did in the first leg) he does that quite a lot. He was even able to cover Hog's grubber through at the end. I had my head in my hands as I saw him turn but he got back fine.

He's a very mercurial player. But also not very good.

Good baker apparently thought.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

BigGee wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Nematode you're still in with a chance of reaching the KO stages, why feel the need to give up so soon?

I don't think it's giving up, but rather focusing on the more winnable games. Racing in Glasgow (once they've qualified) is a far better opportunity for points and then it's all going to come down to the key contest - Northampton at the Gardens. I don't see this one as a must win to get to the KOs, and in fact I genuinely don't see Glasgow winning in France whatever they do. Glasgow have had a couple of brutal back to back defeats, and having formed the nucleus of the Scotland World Cup effort have a group of players who need a break. I think this is the game to do it.

Alternatively it could be just the game to kick start their season. Sides that win championships don't give up on games, especially when they are in the mix. Plenty of teams have won away this year against fancy opponents and Glasgow have done well on the road in the past. In a way there is no pressure on them for this one, no-one is expecting them to do well. Maybe the French may think they only need to turn up.

If you go into a game thinking you are going to lose, it will soon become a self fulfilling prophecy. We did see a few glimpses of hope in the first half. I am still a believer and it is going to click at some stage.

So which game would you suggest that Glasgow rest the likes of Bennett and Hogg, or do they simply play each and every game this season, including all the Scotland fixtures in the 6 Nations?

As I said, I'm not giving up on the game, just resting a few first choice players because I think if Glasgow were to lose this game it wouldn't be fatal to their qualification chances. Edinburgh are in the same quandry at the moment, when to rest players?

To be fair, Toonie already rests and rotates his players anyway. This game may well be Hoggs turn to sit out, but that would have happened anyway. Bennett had a couple of games off not that long ago and Russell and Seymour sat out the second leg of the derby. He was even rotating right at the business end of last season, when you would imagine that he would have had his strongest side out each game.

The philosophy of having and using a squad, letting every player beleive that they have a chance to play and show what they can do has worked for Glasgow in the past and it may well work again if they regain their form as the season goes on and other teams start to flag. Edinburgh have taken the oposite approach for the past few years and it has always cost them in the end.

Jack Cuthbert does look a little like an Ostrich that has morphed into Prince Charles when running:





But when he's playing well he is effective. His kicking is also pretty strong.

I was being unfair actually. I like him and he's been good for us overall.

Almost exactly like De Luca really. Does a lot of good stuff but will probably cost you 2-3 games a season.

I remember when he first signed and folk joked that we accidentally got the wrong Cuthbert but I think I'd probably rather have Jack than Alex.

Cuthbert is on decent form at the moment so I'd give him a run in the side. Our centre partnership is starting to come together nicely with helps the fullback time his running into the attack. When Cuthbert is shifting he isn't actually that slow, it's his speed on the turn and accelaration from a standing start which can be eyewateringly funny.

BigGee - I take the point with respect to constant rotation rather than mass rotation, it has worked for Glasgow in the past. I just think the team is short on form right now and I'd be tempted to let the key combinations bed down a bit more, which means resting the likes of Russell, Bennett, Seymour and Hogg at the same time, rather than piecemeal. Still, quite right to point out that the Tombola had success last season and I do see the logic in promoting constant/weekly competition for places.

There hasn't been much chat on here about the problems with the Scotstoun pitch - Townsend has publicly stated that it is 'not fit for purpose'. Apart from the 2 games cancelled they also apparently haven't been able to train on grass for weeks.

The problem as I understand it is that the pitch is owned by Glasgow city council, so it's not as simple as just the SRU sorting it out.

Thoughts?

Its pretty much under water at the moment and it is going to be a mess for some time to come. They will be lucky to get the return game with Racing played on it the way the weather is just now.

It does not help Glasgow training and playing on a surface like that, especially given the way they like to play. Somewhere down the line they are going to need to get a synthetic pitch down. Maybe this will be the catalyst for that in the same way that the worms got Edinburgh a new pitch. Surely there must be a way around the problem of not owning Scotstoun. If not then they really need to be thinking of moving on. This has got the potential to ruin Glasgow as a team. Coming to play on a pitch like that is not an attractive proposition for prospective acquisitions.

They need an artificial pitch or one like Murrayfield.

They should play their home games at Murrayfield.

des wrote:They should play their home games at Murrayfield.

That may well happen against Racing. I hope they are thinking about contingencies already for that weekend.

An artificial pitch will not solve the problem, it's under water.  2 years ago they dug up, placed 300mm sand and drainage ducts at 5 m centres.  It's not worked, not sue if it's due to the outfall drainage which is used for the whole of the complex, perhaps it at capacity, or because it's so flat and only 9 m above sea level and only I guess 600m from Clyde!

This problem and lack of solution has nothing to do with not owning scotstoun BG.  And where could we move on too?

I was there tonight and pitch is unplayable took a couple of photos, can you add to this site?

As an aside GW currently train at Tory glen under cover!

There's also a slight problem with an artificial pitch in that Scotstoun is also (primarily) an athletics venue and field sports, discus, shot putt, hammer, etc don't work well with an artificial surface.

Well Allianz Park is a 3G pitch and it has an athletic track around it.

I can't see Glasgow leaving Scotstoun any time soon because of what they have managed to build there, but the pitch is a massive concern.

I'm no drainage engineer (they are the whipping boys of the civil engineering profession ) but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a reasonable solution to improve drainage of the site and the pitch.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I can't see Glasgow leaving Scotstoun any time soon because of what they have managed to build there, but the pitch is a massive concern.

I'm no drainage engineer (they are the whipping boys of the civil engineering profession ) but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a reasonable solution to improve drainage of the site and the pitch.

Let's ask Radge then.....

Scotstoun badly needs a surface similar to the one at the Allianz. In fact I'd astroturf the whole of Glasgow.

Prepare yourselves folks, the Toonie Tombola has spun into overdrive, skipped off the table, down the street and blown through the wall of HMP Barlinnie.

Russell at 12.

What the actual??

IanBru wrote:Prepare yourselves folks, the Toonie Tombola has spun into overdrive, skipped off the table, down the street and blown through the wall of HMP Barlinnie.

Russell at 12.

It gets better. The Selkirk Pixie is our backup scrum-half, and our starter is... Ali Price.

I actually think Price has a lot of potential. He was really energetic against Edinburgh and get the tempo up nicely for Glasgow. Obviously his decision making needs work and his service struggled when Edinburgh turned up the heat, but I thought he generally did well.

Lee Jones must be feeling down right now, having had Sean Lamont publicise the fact that he is the quicker man. Jones missed a trick by not specialising as a scrum half. He could have been far more useful in that position than on the wing, where the sight of Julian Malzieu bearing down on him must still be a source of nightmares.

They needed Weir, Russell and Hogg in the team though. Plenty of kickoff options.....

Joking aside I like the pack with only Brown for Weepee providing clear improvement. What's the news on Strauss and Dunbar? Is Strauss finally having his minutes managed?

I can't find the team - what's the full line-up?

Racing 92
15. Johannes Goosen; 14. Juan Imhoff, 13. Henry Chavancy, 12. Alexandre Dumoulin, 11. Marc Andreu; 10. Dan Carter, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Dimitri Szarzewski, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Manuel Carizza, 6. Yannick Nyanga, 7. Wenceslas Lauret, 8. Chris Masoe
16. Camille Chat, 17. Julien Brugnaut, 18. Luc Ducalcon, 19. Bernard Le Roux, 20. Antonie Claassen, 21. Brice Dulin, 22. Mike Phillips, 23. Casey Laulala

Glasgow Warriors
15. Stuart Hogg; 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13. Mark Bennett, 12. Finn Russell, 11. Sean Lamont; 10. Duncan Weir, 9. Ali Price; 1. Gordon Reid, 2. Pat MacArthur, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Leone Nakarawa, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Ryan Wilson, 7. Chris Fusaro, 8. Adam Ashe
16. Fraser Brown, 17. Alex Allan, 18. Sila Puafisi, 19. Greg Peterson, 20. Hugh Blake, 21. Lee Jones, 22. Samuel Johnson, 23. Glenn Bryce

Cheers!

It's actually a pretty strong Glasgow team - as strong as they can put out at the moment I think, with the exception of Brown being on the bench with MacArthur starting.

Massive test for Fagerson going up against Ben Arous, and Nyanga vs Wilson is a horrible mismatch (although not quite on the same scale as Carter vs Weir).

The Racing bench is awesome as well, with Ducalcon, Le Roux, Claassen, Dulin, Phillips and Laulala all bringing serious impact. Only Peterson and Blake look to add anything from the Glasgow bench, and nothing like the quality Racing can call upon.

I take no pleasure in saying this, but I don't see Glasgow getting within 20 points of Racing.

If you are relying on any impact from Greg Peterson - god help you.

only Van Der Merwe and Kruger are missing in Racing (both locks) but cant say Carizza and Charteris are bad replacement either! otherwise pretty much the best bunch they could call on.
quick question : why waste Finn Russel at 12? Cant Weir play there as a last resort?
looking forward to see Naiyaravoro playing! hope the weather is decent for a change.

Nematode wrote:Jack Cuthbert does look a little like an Ostrich that has morphed into Prince Charles when running:





But when he's playing well he is effective. His kicking is also pretty strong.

Been away for a while, but glad to be back.

First of all I think this post deserves far more plaudits than it's received. The likeness is uncanny.

In regards to the team named by his Looney Toones, WTF?!

Lee Jones may be a masterstroke, or a total disaster.

Just looked at the official release and the injury list tells the story

Not available due to injury: Mike Blair (concussion), Kevin Bryce (shoulder), Alex Dunbar (groin), Simone Favaro (ankle), Rob Harley (thumb), Grayson Hart (concussion/ neck), Tyrone Holmes (foot), Peter Horne (foot), Henry Pyrgos (wrist), Fergus Scott (shoulder), Tommy Seymour (knee / hamstring), Josh Strauss (concussion), Tim Swinson (concussion) and Richie Vernon (shoulder).

Having 3 SH out injured is beyond bad luck.

Slightly worried by the injures to Seymour, Dunbar and Vernon. Those 3 need to be fit for the 6Nations, but all sound a bit dodgy.

Interesting to see that Horne's injury is listed as a foot, rather than the knee injury speculated on here.

Finally a thumb injury from Harley?! Man up you big ginger teddy bear.