URC Preview: Glasgow load up for Stormers

The United Rugby Championship continues on Friday as two matches take place, with Glasgow Warriors and the Ospreys hosting the Stormers and Sharks in their respective fixtures.

Glasgow Warriors v Stormers

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith has welcomed back three Scotland internationals for their first appearances of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season as he makes seven changes in total to his starting XV

Ollie Smith returns to start at full-back and is joined in the back three by Sebastian Cancelliere and Kyle Rowe. Stafford McDowall skippers the side from inside centre and is joined by Sione Tuipulotu, who is back after representing Scotland at the World Cup. Tom Jordan starts at fly-half with George Horne on his inside.

Matt Fagerson also returns to the side and packs down on the blindside, with Rory Darge promoted from the bench. The loose trio is complete by number eight, Sione Vailanu.

Greg Peterson comes into the second row to partner Richie Gray while Johnny Matthews makes his first start of the season as the hooker packs down between Oli Kebble and Zander Fagerson in the front row.

Angus Fraser, Jamie Bhatti, Lucio Sordoni, Scott Cummings, Alex Samuel, Henco Venter, Jamie Dobie, and Duncan Weir are named on the bench.

Stormers head coach John Dobson has made several changes to his starting lineup for their first game of a four-match tour. The 2021/22 champions have claimed back-to-back bonus point victories to kick off their campaign to sit top of the table.

Englishman Ben Loader moves into the centres for the Stormers after Ruhan Nel was ruled out due to a concussion sustained against the Scarlets. He is joined in the midfield by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Angelo Davids is drafted in on the right wing, with Leolin Zas on the left and Warrick Gelant at fullback. Jean-Luc du Plessis has made a timely return to start at fly-half and is partnered by Herschel Jantjies.

In the pack, Evan Roos shifts to the side of the scrum as Keke Morabe earns his first start for the Stormers at number eight. Willie Engelbrecht completes the back row.

Ben-Jason Dixon, alongside Ruben van Heerden, are the two second-rowers as Neethling Fouche captains the side at tighthead prop and is joined in the front row by hooker Joseph Dweba and loosehead prop Ali Vermaak.

Andre-Hugo Venter, Lizo Gqoboka, Brok Harris, Adre Smith, Gary Porter, Marcel Theunissen, Stefan Ungerer, and Clayton Blommetjies are among the replacements.

The teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Greg Peterson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Oli Kebble
Replacements: 16 Angus Fraser, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Alex Samuel, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ben Loader, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Evan Roos, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Neethling Fouche (c), 2Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Gary Porter, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Clayton Blommetjies

Venue: Scotstoun
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: David Sutherland (Scotland), Michael Todd (Scotland)
TMO: Colin Stanley (Ireland)