Tameilau to make first start for Warriors

Nov 2 • General News • 1023 Views • Comments Off on Tameilau to make first start for Warriors

USA international Tevita Tameilau will make his first start for Glasgow Warriors away to Ospreys tomorrow night, kick off 7.35pm, live on Premier Sports 2.

The number 8 will pack down at the Liberty Stadium with Adam Ashe and captain Callum Gibbins either side of him.

Rob Harley and George Turner have both been released by Scotland this weekend. The hooker is flanked by Oli Kebble and D’Arcy Rae in the front-row, while Scott Cummings is Harley’s partner in the engine room.

Nick Frisby and Brandon Thomson start at nine and ten for the first time since orchestrating Glasgow’s 50-17 pre-season victory over Harlequins in Perth.

Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy’s Stafford McDowall impressed off the bench against Munster and makes his first start for the club with Nick Grigg outside of him.

DTH van der Merwe was a late absentee against Munster but returns to the starting XV on one wing with Rory Hughes starting on the other with Ruaridh Jackson at full-back.

On the bench Kiran McDonald returns from injury to be involved for the first time his season.

Bruce Flockhart is in line to make his full Glasgow Warriors debut and Paddy Kelly will also get his first taste of rugby in a Warriors shirt this season.

Sam Johnson suffered a knee injury in Glasgow’s defeat to Munster last weekend and is expected to be out for 10-12 weeks.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie said: “We’re excited by the challenge this week. What we know is that regardless of who pulls on the jersey there is an expectation to perform in it and we’ve named a strong squad that can go out there and deliver.

“Ospreys are right on our tails in the Conference and are playing really well. We’ll need to reach the same levels of physicality we have done in our last three games to get the performance we expect from a Glasgow Warriors side.

“It’s tough for Sam, he’s just returned from injury so to injure his other knee is disappointing for him. He’s a determined man and has already began work on his rehab and we look forward to having him back fit.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Ospreys in the Guinness PRO14 at the Liberty Stadium, Friday 2 November, 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 (17)
2. George Turner (27)
3. D’Arcy Rae (48)
4. Rob Harley (192)
5. Scott Cummings (44)
6. Adam Ashe (58)
7. Callum Gibbins (C) (23)
8. Tevita Tameilau (1)

9. Nick Frisby (3)
10. Brandon Thomson (12)
11. Rory Hughes (37)
12. Stafford McDowall (2)
13. Nick Grigg (47)
14. DTH van der Merwe (107)
15. Ruaridh Jackson (141)

Replacements
16. Grant Stewart (9)
17. Jamie Bhatti (30)
18. Adam Nicol (7)
19. Kiran McDonald (12)
20. Matt Smith (19)
21. Bruce Flockhart (0)
22. Paddy Kelly (2)
23. Niko Matawalu (98)

Unavailable players: Zander Fagerson (ankle), Siua Halanukanuka (foot), Stuart Hogg (ankle), Sam Johnson (knee), Lelia Masaga (back) and Tim Swinson (lower limb).

Alex Allan (Scotland), Fraser Brown (Scotland), Alex Dunbar (Scotland), Matt Fagerson (Scotland), Jonny Gray (Scotland), Adam Hastings (Scotland), George Horne (Scotland), Pete Horne (Scotland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Lee Jones (Scotland), Greg Peterson (USA), Ali Price (Scotland), Tommy Seymour (Scotland) and Ryan Wilson (Scotland).