Glasgow v Munster Scotstoun Friday 7th September

So this week The Once And Future Champions welcome Munster to sunny Scotstoun.


It is far too early to be thinking about play-off deciders but..... surely both sides know that a top three place is pretty much dependent upon finishing above two of; Cheetahs, Ospreys and Glasgow/Munster. Cardiff have recruited well but seemed hell bent on losing when they should have closed out the game at home to Leinster and although Zebra look stronger than they have in ages they may lack the consistency to make a serious challenge.


Glasgow go into the season with a lot of points to prove. Are they on the down slope after peaking or is DR the man to make them serious contenders again? Do they have a set of forwards who can compete? Are they all flash and no bang?


After beating up the Cheetahs the Munster pack will be looking forward to the chance to put Glasgow in their place and, possibly, set the tone for the rest of the season in this conference.


Glasgow showed some grunt in the pack against the Craggy Islanders and managed to come away with five points: I don't think too many sides will leave Galway with a BP win in the bag this season.


Glasgow so far

Front Row  Had the better of it in Galway, may not be the penalty machine we feared. Keeble and Zander looked solid. Brown and Turner will be having a rare old battle for the starting hooker spot.

Locks With Naughty Boy, Swinson and McDonald all missing we do seem to lack the nastiness which is essential, both Ickle Jonny and Cummings, while  exceptional athletes and ball players, seem just too nice sometimes. If Oscar Peterson isn't in the 23 for this one you do have to wonder why he is being kept on at Scotstoun.


Back Row Big Bad Bob-Batman-Cully seems to be the preferred option with Arthur Ashe to come on. Will DR have Fagerson jr benching and BBB moving to lock if needed or one back row and Peterson covering lock?


Half backs Horne-Hastings were decidedly underwhelming on Saturday. Both are very talented but in some ways Glasgow were better in the 10 minutes Hastings was yellow carded. I think DR needs to stick with them as the only thing they seem to lack is experience.


Centres Sam Johnson out for 8 weeks and Huw Jones out for another 3-4.  Means we will see Horne Snr-Dunbar-Grigg in the 23. Actually, we might see that as the 10-12-13 to start as Horne Snr is probably a better defender than Hastings.


Back three Seymour-Hogg-DTH I'd take that unit against any in the Pro 14.



If any Munsterites want to let us know what to expect from them I'd be grateful: and no, "15 angry men in red jerseys looking for a stramash" does not count as an appropriate answer. No matter how apt.

Jim's nurse said that this thread took a lot out of him, but it was well worth it.

A triumph.

Ah George

I think Friday will be about who is most inclined to give their opposite number a right good doing. So Batman, Cully and Eck Dunbar should all start. DR could also crap in Zander's scrum-bunnet and tell him "Some Irish fella did it."

Just wish I could be there. As MrsPip remarked often on our honeymoon.

Well this week will definitely give us a much better impression of where both teams are at.

As the season goes on, I have a feeling that a 5 pointer in Galway may not be seen as a bad result at all. Sure Glasgow where far from their fluent best, but they did show a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get the job done, something we certainly struggled with at the tail end of last season. It does kind of show that they have not forgotten how to win games and that is important.

In many ways the Munster result is more of an enigma, as the Cheetahs did not seem all that impressive and clearly had no interest in winning the game. Having been robbed of many of their best players from last season, it remains to be seen if they will be any kind of play off contenders again this time around. It certainly was not the hard work out that a side often benefits from first up, that maybe Munster needed. However it pans out on Friday, it will certainly be a much tougher game and for Munster, the real start of the season.

In terms of selection, I really don't see that many changes for Glasgow. This is a potential table topping fixture and we need to be as near full strength as we can be. Rotation can wait for the SA trip to come and the likliehood of some easier games.

Brown was very impressive when he came on and will likely start this one. Otherwise the front rows will likely stay the same. Zander was imprssive and he is likely to stick with Rae on the bench for this one, with Nicol getting his chance when ZF gets rotated out at some point on the SA tour.

JG and Cummings will surely start in the boiler room again, the only question being the bench, or as last week, just use Harley again, a player who never runs out of gas. DR does not seem to rate Peterson and only plays him when he has to and he does not need to this weekend. A chance of Davidson benching, but that is more likely to happen next week.

Back row, maybe Ashe to start and if so, then Harley likely to bench and genuinely cover second row. Matt Smith might have had a shout, but goy himself sent off in a club game and so is likely to be on the naughty step for a week or two. Fusaro likely to continue in that case.

At half back, not Hastings best game for sure last week, but we have surely got to continue to run him, he is going to need exposure to improve, simple as that. SH is a bit morte competitive though, Price is almost fit and Frisby probably played better than Horne when he came on. This one is hard to call.

I think we might see Horne and Dunbar in the centres and the back three unchanged. Niko to bench again and some of the others to get a chance in South Africa. We cvould potentially see Jacko or Hughes on the bench as it would be good to get them a run out and we otherwisde run the risk of a mass, Tooniesque rotation when down south next weekend. I suspect DR might do it in a more gentle fashion!

Glasgow team v Munster is out

Dave Rennie has named a settled side as Glasgow Warriors welcome Munster to Scotstoun in the Guinness PRO14

The inclusion of Fraser Brown and Adam Ashe in the starting pack are the only changes to the starting XV from last weekend's bonus-point win over Connacht in Galway, the Number 8 coming off the bench at the Sportsground to score what proved to be the match winning try.

Brown joins Oli Kebble and Zander Fagerson in the front-row. Behind them Rob Harley moves from the flank into the engine room to partner Jonny Gray.

Co-captains Callum Gibbins and Ryan Wilson complete the forward pack.

It is an unchanged back-line, Stuart Hogg will be looking to replicate his heroics on the west coast of Ireland at Scotstoun. He is joined in the backfield by try scorer against Connacht Tommy Seymour and DTH van der Merwe.

Peter Horne is joined in midfield by Nick Grigg. His younger brother starts at scrum-half, partnering Adam Hastings.

On the bench Ali Price and Matt Fagerson have both recovered from injury to be included in the match day 23.

Scotland international Jamie Bhatti is also named amongst the replacements.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie said: "Over the last year there has been a lot of changes week-to-week based on availability, rotating internationals and injuries so it is good to have some continuity from the game last week.

"Munster are a quality side and are consistently up at the top end of our league and in Europe based around a really strong pack.

"They are smart tactically, kick really well and look after the ball so our discipline will be important, but we've trained really positively this week and can't wait to get back out in front of our vocal home support."

Glasgow Warriors team to play Munster in the Guinness PRO14 at Scotstoun Stadium, Friday 7 September, kick off 7.35pm - live on Premier Sports 2. You can follow the game on Twitter @GlasgowWarriors. Glasgow Warriors appearances in brackets:

1. Oli Kebble (10)

2. Fraser Brown (76)

3. Zander Fagerson (70)

4. Rob Harley (185)

5. Jonny Gray (87)

6. Ryan Wilson (CC) (141)

7. Callum Gibbins (CC) (16)

8. Adam Ashe (53)



9. George Horne (21)

10. Adam Hastings (10)

11. DTH van der Merwe (102)

12. Peter Horne (139)

13. Nick Grigg (43)

14. Tommy Seymour (116)

15. Stuart Hogg (108)



Replacements



16. George Turner (20)

17. Jamie Bhatti (27)

18. D'Arcy Rae (40)

19. Scott Cummings (39)

20. Matt Fagerson (26)

21. Ali Price (57)

22. Alex Dunbar (112)

23. Niko Matawalu (93)

Players unavailable due to injury: Brian Alainu'uese (back), Bruce Flockhart (shoulder), Chris Fusaro (head), Siua Halanukanuka (foot), Sam Johnson (head / knee), Huw Jones (wrist), Lee Jones (achilles), Lelia Masaga (shoulder), Kiran McDonald (hand) and Tim Swinson (lower limb).

So as predicted, not to many changes and hopefully Glasgow will benefit from some continuity.

Brown comes in to bolster the front row a bit more and Ashe will add some carrying to the back row. I don't think we will lose anything with Harley going into the boiler room. I suspect he may play there a fair bit this season.

The bench is probably a bit stronger than last week.

Matt Fagerson will bring some energy and hopefully some physicality to the back row later on and Ali Price, will hopefully be showing us that he is not overweight and sluggish any more. He made his reputation with very good interventions from the bench previously, hopefully he can begin his rehab in the same way.

This is not far from the best team we can put out at the moment, rotation will begin next week in South Africa.

and the Munster Team

The Munster team to face Glasgow Warriors in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday night at 7.35pm has been named by Head Coach Johann van Graan.

Jaco Taute makes a welcome return after missing almost a year of action through injury with the centre among the replacements.

Tadhg Beirne is also among the 23-man squad with the new signing in line to make his Munster debut off the bench.

Billy Holland captains a Munster side that shows one change to the starting XV that beat Cheetahs last weekend as Sammy Arnold comes in at outside centre.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Darren Sweetnam and Academy man Shane Daly on the wings.

Rory Scannell is partnered by Arnold in the centres with the half-back pairing of Neil Cronin and JJ Hanrahan unchanged.

There are no changes to the forwards with hooker Mike Sherry packing down alongside Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan.

Holland and Jean Kleyn are in the second row with Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell and Arno Botha in the back row.

Rhys Marshall, James Cronin and Stephen Archer are the front row replacements with Fineen Wycherley and Beirne completing the forward cover.

Duncan Williams, Joey Carbery and Taute are the backline replacements.

Munster: Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Neil Cronin; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne, Duncan Williams, Joey Carbery, Jaco Taute.

Munster getting a thrashing at Scoutson. 22-0 at half time and Munster are lucky with nil.

Glasgow in blinding form and attacking from everywhere - unrelenting, hunting down everything.
Munster abysmal - falling off tackles, not holding tackles, getting driven at scrum, poor in the line out, can’t string a more than one pass together, kicking poorly, and not playing very well either. Possession and territory has to be in the 80% territory it’s so one sided.

And wouldn’t you know it, all changed at the beginning of second half.

Ten minutes gone and it’s been all Munster in the Glasgow half. But only a penalty kick to show for it.

22-3.

Glasgow continuing to soak up the pressure. If they weather this storm without conceding, they’re home and hosed.

56 mins and Munster win another penalty. Carbery kicks perfectly for corner. Glasgow defend like dervishes from the lineout for 22 phasases and eventually Munster spill the ball. Superb defence.

60 mins gone.

Tadgh Beirne playing a stormer along with academy lock Fineen Wycherley but it ain’t enough.  Glasgow have repelled everything thrown at them.  

More multiple phases from Munster and eventually they crack as Rhys Marshall crashes over on 69 mins.

22-10.  Is there an LBP in sight?

Probably not as Glasgow win a kickable penalty in front of posts at the next breakdown from re-start. Hogg nails it.

25-10 on 73 mins.

Munster kick to corner from another penalty and fluff the lineout.

Glasgow pile forward looking for the TBP. But no luck. Game over.

Well done Glasgow. 25-10.

Sounds like a decent win for Glasgow, looking forward to watching it when I get the chance tomorrow

Well I watched the Glasgow game when I got up yesterday afternoon and it was quite a performance, I don't think any of us where expecting a game or a score like that.

The Glasgow pack backed up its performance of the previous week with an even better one against stronger opposition. It does indded look like if we can keep our best players fit, we will have a competitive 8 this year, the front row of Keeble, Brown and Fagerson does indeed look very tasty. ZF in particular seems to have picked up the vibe that he is not just going to walk straight into the WC squad now Scotland seem to have discovered a few other half decent THs.

After a patchy game last weekend, Adam Hastings showed the full bag of tricks on his home patch. He certainly seems to be the man that can pick up FR mantle and get the back line purring. He made both tries with sublime bits of skill.

There was a lot to like, at times in the first half, they were back to their mesmerising best, but seemed to have added a layer of patience to their play. The phases that took place to eventually open up the space for Gibbins to score in the corner was the best try Glasgow have scored in a long time.

Yes we did go off the boil a bit in the second half. The wind and the severe boll***ing that the Munster players probably got from their coach at half time, no doubt played a part in that. His face was an absolute picture when he was interviewed at the end, which he gave through seriously gritted teeth!

For all that though, we never let Munster even remotely back into the game with some great defence and in the end were probably a little bit unlucky not to get the BP, even if we did deny Munster any sniff of one themselves.

Glasgow look in a decent place heading off for two weeks in the SA sun today. They can do a bit of gentle rotation of players now and try a few different combos, which will become useful come the AIs and will keep the internationalist fresh.

Two very tricky games done and dusted and 9 points on the board. I would have taken that a the beginning of the season.

Munster maybe did not benefit from having a cakewalk in their first game and I am sure having had a much tougher game under their belts and a lot of players still to slot back in, they will be up and firing now for the rest of the season. They have had their wake up call now!

Pot Hale wrote:Tadgh Beirne playing a stormer along with academy lock Fineen Wycherley but it ain’t enough.  Glasgow have repelled everything thrown at them.  

More multiple phases from Munster and eventually they crack as Rhys Marshall crashes over on 69 mins.

22-10.  Is there an LBP in sight?

Beirne and James Ryan will be one hell of a lock pairing.

Terrific first half performance from Glasgow. Really liked Hastings and though Ashe served us a timely reminder of what he can do. More of that please, and he'll be back in the Scotland reckoning.

Nice start from the Great Unwashed.