TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Glasgow Warriors Vs Edinburgh Rugby
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Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn returns to the starting XV for tomorrow night’s 1872 Cup opener at Scotstoun, as Head Coach Franco Smith makes five changes to his starting lineup ahead of the visit of Edinburgh.
The match – on course to be the first sell-out of the season at the home of the Warriors – marks the first match in the 150th anniversary series between the two sides, with Glasgow and Edinburgh having first met at Burnbank, home of Glasgow Academical RFC, in November 1872.
Fraser Brown is the only change to the starting lineup that earned a bonus-point victory over Perpignan last weekend, the hooker coming into a front-row to pack down between Jamie Bhatti and Murphy Walker.
Sintu Manjezi is promoted to the starting XV after coming off the bench last time out, as the South African joins Richie Gray in the engine room.
The back-row is unchanged from the victory over Perpignan, meaning that Player of the Match Sione Vailanu continues at openside in a breakaway trio rounded out by Scotland duo Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey.
Behind the scrum, Tom Jordan comes into the side to start at number 10, partnering George Horne in the half-backs.
Stafford McDowall and Sione Tuipulotu combine in the midfield, the former coming into the squad after missing out on last weekend’s EPCR Challenge Cup victory.
1. Jamie Bhatti (76)
2. Fraser Brown (130)
3. Murphy Walker (11)
4. Sintu Manjezi (10)
5. Richie Gray (91)
6. Matt Fagerson (84)
7. Sione Vailanu (5)
8. Jack Dempsey (27)
9. George Horne (89)
10. Tom Jordan (9)
11. Kyle Steyn (C) (55)
12. Stafford McDowall (44)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (27)
14. Sebastian Cancelliere (17)
15. Josh McKay (20)
Replacements
16. George Turner (84)
17. Nathan McBeth (10)
18. Simon Berghan (18)
19. JP du Preez (9)
20. Lewis Bean (24)
21. Cameron Neild (1)
22. Ali Price (117)
23. Domingo Miotti (12)
Edinburgh Rugby
Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe returns as Edinburgh Rugby make five changes for tomorrow night’s historic 150th anniversary 1872 Cup opening leg at Scotstoun Stadium (Friday 23 December, kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Viaplay.
World rugby’s oldest intercity rivalry celebrates a landmark anniversary exactly 150 years and one month from the first-ever meeting between the two cities at Burbank Park, Glasgow, on 23 November 1872.
Edinburgh Ruby are the current holders of the famous trophy – which this week was replenished to celebrate the anniversary of the fixture – while the definitive head-to-head record between the two sides has now been confirmed, with Edinburgh taking inter-city honours 70 times to Glasgow’s 52, with 15 draws in the 150-year history of the rivalry.
In the backline, Van der Merwe is once again fit after a late withdrawal through injury against Castres last Saturday – the British & Irish Lion returns in place of Damien Hoyland.
Charlie Savala – a try-scorer against Castres Olympique – starts at stand-off as Blair Kinghorn misses out through injury.
With Matt Currie picking up a knock against Castres, James Lang switches to outside centre, allowing club centurion Chris Dean to return to the starting XV at 12.
15. Emiliano Boffelli (24)
14. Wes Goosen (6)
13. James Lang (18)
12. Chris Dean (130)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (70)
10. Charlie Savala (20)
9. Ben Vellacott (28)
1. Pierre Schoeman (91)
2. Tom Cruse (2)
3. WP Nel (180)
4. Glen Young (17)
5. Grant Gilchrist (182) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Jamie Ritchie (91) CO-CAPTAIN
7. Connor Boyle (25)
8. Viliame Mata (104)
Replacements
16. Patrick Harrison (8)
17. Boan Venter (36)
18. Angus Williams (17)
19. Marshall Sykes (31)
20. Ben Muncaster (24)
21. Henry Pyrgos (77)
22. Jaco van der Walt (92)
23. Cammy Scott (1)
