Glasgow Warriors vs Scarlets

No thread yet so here it is.

Where? Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
When? Friday 7:45 kick-off
How? In person, Sky Sports Action, BBC2 Wales or BBC Alba
Why? Because it’s a semi final of Europe’s dominant league

Well done Eejit.

If everyone is fit.

Bhatti-Brown- Ragnar (Allen-Turner-Nuke)

Johnny-Brian (Swinson but he'll start with McDonald to bench)

Batman-Fagerson- All Man No Mullet ( BBB to bench)

Player Of The Year ( Henners)

Furra Linee (Dancer: Finn has been "corralled" against Wales and Scarlets , Horne scored in both games)

Johnson-Dunbar (tough on Griggs, but Scarlets centres are big)

Seymour-Hogg-VDM (Jackson)

Jimbo - there is not a cat's chance in hell that Russell won't start this game, unless he falls down some stairs between now and Friday. We won't win without him playing well that's for sure. Horne I imagine will bench and cover centre and FH. Tough on Hastings who I thought had a decent game against Edinburgh when he came on.

I am not even sure about Dunbar starting or playing, he seems to be struggling still. Jones was on twitter visiting his old school this week, so I am imagining he is not fit still and has already started his summer holiday. I fancy Grigg to start.

I think Cummings will be in the second row mix as well. I think you are right that JG and Swinno will start, either Cummings or BBB to cover second row if he decides he wants another speedster, Fusaro or Smith on the bench.

Gee, I totally agree that if Dancer is on fire we will win. However, I do think the Welsh did a real job on him and Aldi Price both at Cardiff and Porky Scarlets. Also, I'm worried that he would want to make it the Finn Russell show and that might backfire badly.

At 13 it's Dunbar or Grigg. Dunbar gives more in defence, Grigg more in attack. Mind, I qualified my selection by saying "if fit".

As for the back row... he could l play Harley-Ashe-Fusaro with Smith on the bench . But I think we might see Harley cover second row and Ashe or Fusaro covering the back row.

Horne at 10 to start and Dancer to light up the last half hour when the game opens up.

Odds on another Gareth Davies interception try ?

1/2p ruled out with a torn hamstring

LondonTiger wrote:1/2p ruled out with a torn hamstring

In McNicol they’ve got a better attacking option, in my opinion. I’ve been impresssed with him since he joined the Scarlets. But of course they lose the accuracy of 1/2p’s boot. And McNicol will be rusty too as he’s been out since Feb.

The Oracle wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:1/2p ruled out with a torn hamstring

In McNicol they’ve got a better attacking option, in my opinion. I’ve been impresssed with him since he joined the Scarlets. But of course they lose the accuracy of 1/2p’s boot. And McNicol will be rusty too as he’s been out since Feb.

When is he Welsh qualified ? He has much more chance of a cap than Blommetjies...

Talking about rusty, will Glasgow in general be a little undercooked or even out of form for this game? Looks like they have had just one win in the last 7 weeks.

LondonTiger wrote:Talking about rusty, will Glasgow in general be a little undercooked or even out of form for this game? Looks like they have had just one win in the last 7 weeks.

Scarlets bummed Glasgae last time they faced them too.

Glasgow home and away have been two different teams this year.

10 home games, 10 wins and 9 BPs. No-one has even taken a BP away from Scotstoun this season.

If we were looking at our recent away form, you would not give us a chance though. Hopefully the home team will turn up.

George Lacey reffing.

On the plus side it's not Clownshoes.

On the minus side, he can be whistlehappy at the breakdown. Mind you, if he actually enforces the offside law then gareth Davies probably won't score another interception try.

Glasgow are going into this with very little form or momentum having only played 2 games in the last month and lost both. Scarlets have had a fairly attritional end of season and have played a lot of big games recently, so there's a chance they will run out of steam.

So what will it be - fresh and fit but no form, battle hardened but potentially over-worked?

I think Glasgow will win, potentially by more than a score, but if they carry on their away form at home they will get pumped.

jimbopip wrote:George Lacey reffing.

On the plus side it's not Clownshoes.

On the minus side, he can be whistlehappy at the breakdown. Mind you, if he actually enforces the offside law then gareth Davies probably won't score another interception try.

FFS.

The Oracle wrote:

jimbopip wrote:George Lacey reffing.

On the plus side it's not Clownshoes.

On the minus side, he can be whistlehappy at the breakdown. Mind you, if he actually enforces the offside law then gareth Davies probably won't score another interception try.

FFS.

Language, Oracular one, language.

If you're getting stressy over the the factual reporting that Davies didn't so much sneak across the offside line as stand there completing the Llanelli Telegraph's crossword (1.across...4legged woolly animal goes bah( 5 letters)1.down adult lamb (5letters) ) while waiting for the ball to arrive goodness only knows what you'll be like come Friday when the real banter starts.

George Lacey.

Hmmmm.

Jimbo is elderly - we tend to give him a bit of leeway with these things...

jimbopip wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

jimbopip wrote:George Lacey reffing.

On the plus side it's not Clownshoes.

On the minus side, he can be whistlehappy at the breakdown. Mind you, if he actually enforces the offside law then gareth Davies probably won't score another interception try.

FFS.

Language, Oracular one, language.

If you're getting stressy over the the factual reporting that Davies didn't so much sneak across the offside line as stand there completing the Llanelli Telegraph's crossword (1.across...4legged woolly animal goes bah( 5 letters)1.down adult lamb (5letters) ) while waiting for the ball to arrive goodness only knows what you'll be like come Friday when the real banter starts.

You been on the Buckfast, Jimbo???!

On your point though, I’ve just had a watch again and it seems clear to me that when Price picks the ball up Davies is onside (so the ball is ‘out’ and that’s fine), it’s just that by the time Price actually makes the pass Davies is up to the line. Pedestrian passing from Price. Almost Mike Phillips-esque. Almost.

Here’s both clips in one post. Get ready with the pause button

https://rugbyonslaught.com/chilling-ali-pryce-gareth-davies-recreate-identical-intercept-try-six-nations/

Whether he was offside or on and I am not going to argue the toss, both were very pedestrian and poor passes. I expect no-one knows that better than Price, whose form has gone down the pan ever since the Welsh game, when we were expecting him to put his name on the shirt.

I am pretty sure he won't start on Friday and may not even be in the squad. He is a good player but probably needs the summer off to re-discover his mojo.

BigGee wrote:He is a good player but probably needs the summer off to re-discover his mojo......

..... at Edinburgh

Rennie could make a big decision and start with Horne the younger who is so fast that if he saw Davies sneak in to snaffle the ball young Horne would nip round and intercept his own pass.

Another big call would be Horne the Elder at 10. However, I think George Horne will keep the Scarlets fringe defence honest and Sam Johnson at 12 will step in at first receiver thus allowing Finn Russell room to express himself.
I think it'll be a very close game and home advantage may just prove decisive.

After all the hoo ha around Rennie, if Glasgow don't at least make the final then this has to go down as a season of underachievement, particularly given how the Weej streaked away at the start of the season only to lose mojo half way through and the extent to which we gargled old man balls in Europe once again. 

As has been pointed out, Glasgow is a categorically different animal at home, which at the moment is the only thing which gives them a chance. In previous seasons, they were absolutely brutual on keeping the error count low - I don't have the same confidence this season. This will be potentially Finn Russell's last game in a Glasgow shirt and I cannot believe that he won't start. 

Horne the younger and Horne the elder should warm the bench - the former is a likely game winner with 20 to go. I hope to hell that Big Brian is fit because we have needed his size 16s on the field desperately. Am a little concerned about the back row - I presume 7. Mighty Mullet and 8. Mighty Crayon but I don't know who would be in at blindside. 

I have concerns. Concerns, I tell you. 

Not about Jim. He's always been like that.

Thank you GC.

Consistency has always been my one great strength: consistency and equanimity. Those are my one big strength.

Reading DR's comments this week, he keeps talking about not allowing the fear of failure to inhibit their desire to express themselves. (my paraphrasing). You don't need to be a seasoned Kremlinologist to hear, "We're starting with our best players and Finn's top of that list". I think Finn needs a 9 who will keep the defence guessing; at the moment Aldi Price keeps us all guessing but in a "Fecc me what is he doing?" kind of way, Henners is a very good 9 but very much a does what it says on the tin type, Wee Georgie though!!! I think Aldi will be rested and Henners will be looking to close out the game.

Back row is, possibly, Scarlets' strongest area and we need to match them there. However, your Uncle Doogie is probably a better no8 than the Giant Red Crayon. The Mighty Harley is a 6 all day long, every day and twice on Sundays.

Possible back rows

6. Harley 7. Mullet 8. Batman
6. Batman 7. Mullet. 8 Ashe
6. Mullet 7. Batman 8. Fagerson

We also have Fozzie, Matt Smith and Lewis Wynne. Of those three I think Fozzie might have a chance of starting at 7.
However, I believe that if Batman and the Mullet are fit they will start.The big question will be does DR want the destructiveness of BBB or a ball carrying 8? Personally, I would be looking at Ashe or Fagerson. But what do I know?

I get the feeling that Glasgow will go into this with the attitude of, "If we lose we'll go down swinging". High tempo high risk rugby will be the order of the day.

As Fast Eddie Felsom says at the denoument of The Hustler, "You know what? Percentage players die broke too! Let's shoot some pool FatMan."

I agree with the sentiments above but I think we’re likely to see Bhatti, Brown and Ragnar. Johnny and Swinson then Batman Mullet and M Fagerson. George Horne and Finn in midfield then Johnson Jones and the back three pick themselves followed by a stacked bench with Big Brian, Boab, Jacko, Niko etc.

It’s horrible for any player to get injured but I can’t help but feel the loss of 1/2p means that we’ll win this by a score. He may not be the flashiest player on the planet (though he has rediscovered a bit of his mojo since joining Scarlets) but he exudes quality and has a horrible habit of keeping his side in games while simultaneously beating Scots. Certainly not an ideal game for McNicholl to come back for as he hasn’t played in some months.

Eejit, I like your team. Mainly because it's very close to the one I predicted.

However, there are players who DR will start every time if they are fit. Batman is deffo one of them. The Mullet is another. So, we will have Crayon, Fagerson, Fozzie, Ashe looking at one to start and one to bench.

13 is a nightmare to select; Dunbar, Jones or Grigg? Jones is not half the player in the Pro14 that he is at international level. Dunbar will love Parks and Williams running at him and his speed over the ball after the tackle could well negate Barclay and co and win a couple of turnovers. Offensively Grigg is the form 13. Glad I'm not making that choice.

Naughty Boy may be fit and healthy...but can he possibly be match fit? I think Gray-Swinson and Harley to bench. (This would allow another 7 on the bench)

jimbopip wrote:Eejit, I like your team. Mainly because it's very close to the one I predicted.

However, there are players who DR will start every time if they are fit. Batman is deffo one of them. The Mullet is another. So, we will have Crayon, Fagerson, Fozzie, Ashe looking at one to start and one to bench.

13 is a nightmare to select; Dunbar, Jones or Grigg? Jones is not half the player in the Pro14 that he is at international level. Dunbar will love Parks and Williams running at him and his speed over the ball after the tackle could well negate Barclay and co and win a couple of turnovers. Offensively Grigg is the form 13. Glad I'm not making that choice.

Naughty Boy may be fit and healthy...but can he possibly be match fit? I think Gray-Swinson and Harley to bench. (This would allow another 7 on the bench)

I thought that Sir Shuggy of Jones was definitely out because of surgery and also presumably he has a modelling commitment with Abercrombie & Fitch to keep.

jimbopip wrote:George Lacey reffing.

On the plus side it's not Clownshoes.

On the minus side, he can be whistlehappy at the breakdown. Mind you, if he actually enforces the offside law then gareth Davies probably won't score another interception try.

"Beware it carries a terrible curse!"
"Ooh, that's bad."
"But it comes with a free frogurt!"
"That's good."
"The frogurt is also cursed."
"That's bad."
"But you get your choice of toppings."
"That's good!"
"The toppings contain potassium benzoate... ...That's bad."
"Can I go now?"

It's always a worry when I say something, and it stuns people into silence. They're either pondering my genius or desperately looking for fire exits.

IanBru wrote:It's always a worry when I say something, it always stuns people into silence

Fixed that for you Bru.

Anyone counting the seconds till the team is up?

By anyone I mean anyone else, obviously.

Big calls for DR; who partners Wee Jonny in the second row? will GH start?, who plays 8? Or does BBB go 6 and Batman at 8?(Too defensive in my mind), who plays 13?

Everything else pretty much picks itself.

Remember

WE ARE WARRIORS- WE ARE WARRIORS

IanBru wrote:It's always a worry when I say something.

Have also edited appropriately.

George Carlin wrote:

IanBru wrote:It's always a worry when I say ………....

Have also edited appropriately.

Let's have a bit of suspense.

Apparently the Scarlets have only sold about 23 tickets from their allocation. The rational part of my brain can understand this; day off work, travel costs, overnight stay add up to a very expensive trip. However, there seem to be no Scarlets fans joining in the merry banter here. Is it because you're too busy thinking of the final?

I don't think there are that many Scarlets fans on here to be fair.

Away support in the Pro 14 is still pretty low these days, but you can guarantee if Glasgow were away in Wales there would be a few hundred travelling at least!

They had their Euro semi final in Dublin so maybe another away trip soon after was too much for most people.

Only scarlets fan on here is ScarletSpiderman I think???

The Oracle wrote:Only scarlets fan on here is ScarletSpiderman I think???

What makes you think that?

I didn't need to ask that but seasoned readers will have noticed three quote functions in a row and no fecc ups. A new personal best...

Teams up

Bhatti-Brown-Zander
Jonny-Swison
Fagerson-Batman-Mullet
Player Of The Year
Dancer
DTH
Johnson
Grigg
Seymour
Hogg

subs
Allen
Turner
Nuke
Big Bad
Fozzie
Henners
Furra Linee
Ruaridh

Big calls with G Horne, Fozzie and Grigg.

Didn’t expect Grigg starting but happy enough with that. In terms of a centre combination I reckon Johnson and Grigg is the strongest we have for a club game.

From lurking on other forums Scarlets forum seems very confident, Glasgow one seem perplexed at our strength in depth being able to leave out Niko, Dunbar, Huw and Price.

Glasgow by a score.

McNicholl
S Evans
Parkes
Williams
Prydie
Patchell
G Davies

R Evans
Owens
Lee
Byrne
Cummins
Shingler
J Davies
Barclay

Any thoughts on that XV?

jimbopip wrote:

Any thoughts on that XV?

McNicholl isn't a 15. Good to have him back but he's a winger. Glasgow should look to test him all day long.

Eejit wrote:Didn’t expect Grigg starting but happy enough with that. In terms of a centre combination I reckon Johnson and Grigg is the strongest we have for a club game.

From lurking on other forums Scarlets forum seems very confident, Glasgow one seem perplexed at our strength in depth being able to leave out Niko, Dunbar, Huw and Price.

Glasgow by a score.

I think Chris Fusaro as back row replacement is very interesting: looking to up the tempo when he comes on. You could say the same about Harley coming into the second row too.

Not a lot of impact off the bench for Glasgow - Harley (out of position) and Fusaro can hardly be classed as impact players and Pyrgos-Horne are a more controlling combo.

Can see them being brought in to close out the game (which relies on Glasgow being ahead).

Another very good and very honest article from Barclay

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44140999

I have a feeling Glasgow may turn this one around with a great performance. Hopefully they've been reflecting on their recent form and produce the goods.

If Glasgow win it'll be by two scores I reckon. If they lose it'll be by an unconverted score. Depends on which finn shows up

Holy moly this is an exciting prospect. I just wish it was the final instead of the semi

So, with neither Dunbar or Hastings in the squad, are we to assume that:
Dunbar has an injury niggle/ is being saved for the final/ some other reason.
Hastings is being allowed to develop at club level, to be thrown fresh into the Pro14 from next season.

It just seems a bit odd that these guys, and also Matt Smith and Cummings don't get a look in. Puzzling.

Dunbar looks to have fallen down the pecking order and has just been left out, and Hastings has only played this season when there's been no one else so DR obviously doesn't fully trust him yet.

Hastings can feel a little hard done by i agree. Dunbar I'm not convinced with his current form, solid at best and a less versatile player than Horne or Johnson.

Smith and cummings have been doing well and their exclusion is a little puzzling but I guess Rennie wants experience primarily. But I'd argue Cummings has that and is better than Harley.

Dunbar aside, it does demonstrate a production line of capable youngsters to be available for next season.

IanBru wrote:It's always a worry when I say something, and it stuns people into silence. They're either pondering my genius or desperately looking for fire exits.

Homer J Simpson I believe!