Glasgow team to play Zebre

Mar 22 • General News, Guinness Pro14 • 1103 Views • Comments Off on Glasgow team to play Zebre

After re-joining the club last week, DTH van der Merwe goes straight into the starting line-up for the non-televised encounter against Zebre at Scotstoun Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.35pm).

Callum Gibbins will make his first appearance since December and will captain the team. The flanker was voted McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month by supporters in his first two months at the club after arriving from the Hurricanes, but hasn’t played for more than three months after undergoing surgery on an achilles injury.

Hooker George Turner also returns to the side after injuring his knee in January’s victory over Exeter Chiefs in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Turner is joined in the front-row by loose-head Oli Kebble and Zander Fagerson is at tight-head, after coming off the bench for Scotland as they came from behind to defeat Italy in their final NatWest 6 Nations game last weekend.

Also returning from international duty is Tim Swinson, he partners Scott Cummings in the second-row while Rob Harley and Matt Fagerson complete the pack alongside captain, Gibbins.

Warriors’ all-time record try scorer, van der Merwe starts alongside Lee Jones and Ruaridh Jackson in the back-three.

Sam Johnson and Nick Grigg make up the midfield while Henry Pyrgos and Adam Hastings will pull the strings as half backs.

Jamie Bhatti and Peter Horne’s inclusion on the bench makes it a total of five players who are in the Warriors 23 who were involved for Scotland against Italy.

The last remaining tickets for tomorrow night’s game at Scotstoun are available from glasgowwarriors.org.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach, Dave Rennie said: “We had a handful of guys due to return from injury against Ulster, Cully (Calum Gibbins) being one of them so he’s keen as. He’ll lead the side this week and we’ll be relying on his calm demeanour and for him to lead by example.

“It’s my first year here but by all accounts Zebre are a much better side than they have been in the past.

“They’ve got 22 points and have upset a lot of teams so far this season. They play a positive brand of footie and lead the comp in terms of offloads and line breaks. They’ve got some very dangerous personnel so we’ll be have to be at our best.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Zebre in the Guinness PRO14, kick off 7.35pm. Not live on television. You can follow the game on Twitter @GlasgowWarriors. Glasgow Warriors appearances in brackets:

15. Ruaridh Jackson (133)
14. Lee Jones (73)
13. Nick Grigg (37)
12. Sam Johnson (36)
11. DTH Van Der Merwe (96)
10. Adam Hastings (7)
9. Henry Pyrgos (141)

1. Oli Kebble (7)
2. George Turner (14)
3. Zander Fagerson (63)
4. Tim Swinson (107)
5. Scott Cummings (33)
6. Rob Harley (178)
7. Callum Gibbins (9) CAPTAIN
8. Matt Fagerson (21)

Replacements

16. Grant Stewart (5)
17. Jamie Bhatti (22)
18. Siua Halanukonuka (11)
19. Kiran McDonald (10)
20. Chris Fusaro (137)
21. George Horne (17)
22. Peter Horne (133)
23. Lelia Masaga (5)

Not available due to injury: Adam Ashe (ankle), Fraser Brown (ankle), Ryan Grant (groin), Pat MacArthur (shoulder), D’arcy Rae (neck), Leo Sarto (shoulder), Brandon Thomson (knee) and Lewis Wynne (hip).
Gl