News

Preview: Glasgow v Toulouse

October 16 2008

Toulouse utility back Clément Poitrenaud will make his return from injury on Friday when he starts at full-back for the French champions' Round two Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow at Firhill.

Poitrenaud's inclusion sees exciting young prospect Maxime Medard move to the left wing. There are changes on both wings as Manu Ahotaeiloa will play on the right hand side, while Cédric Heymans drops to the bench and Yves Donguy is left out of the squad entirely.

Flank Thierry Dusautoir and scrum-half Byron Kelleher have both been named in the run-on XV, but are uncertain starters. Toulouse are waiting on a decision on Kelleher's disciplinary hearing after being cited for allegedly stamping on Bath fly-half Butch James last Sunday.

If Kelleher is unable to take his place in the team, fit-again Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who has recovered from a kidney ailment will wear the number nine jersey.

Dusautoir is still struggling with injury. Jean Bouilhou will play on the blindside if Dusautoir is not fit in time and Finau Maka, who is also returning from injury, will join the bench.

Meanwhile, Warriors Head Coach Sean Lineen, has made six changes to the side that lost to the Dragons last weekend.

Fly-half Dan Parks and winger Thom Evans have recovered from injury in time for the Warriors' biggest game of the season so far.

In the pack, props Kevin Tkachuk and Ed Kalman are promoted from last weekend's bench whilst Dan Turner is given the nod in the second-row and Richie Vernon makes his first competitive start of the season in the back-row.

"I've been really impressed with the players' attitude this week. They let themselves down last weekend and they're doing everything they can to rectify that result," said Lineen.

"We've only had two home games so far this season and the last against the Scarlets was probably the best I've seen since I became involved with Glasgow. The players need to rediscover that form this week and show their class."

Form: Three-time champions Toulouse scrapped past Bath last weekend with a penalty in the final seconds after failing to cross the try-line. Their pack has been in awesome form but their back-line will have to improve if they are to live up to their reputation. Glasgow scored three tries in going down to the away to the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Round one and will be no push-overs on a chilly Scottish night in Glasgow.

Prediction: Toulouse should do just enough on the road. Toulouse to win by nine.

The teams:

Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mark McMillan, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Richie Vernon, 5 Alastair Kellock (c), 4 Dan Turner, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.

Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Moray Low, 18 Tim Barker, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Ruaridh Jackson, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Andrew Henderson

Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Manu Ahotaeiloa, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 David Skrela, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Salvatore Perugini, 2 William Servat, 1 Daan Human.

Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Romain Millo-Chluski, 19 Jean Bouilhou, 20 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 21 Cédric Heymans, 22 Maleli Kunavore.

Date: Friday October 17

Venue: Firhill

Kick-off: 20.00 (19.00 GMT)

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Touch judges: Simon McDowell (Ireland), Alan Rogan (Ireland)

Television match official: Olan Trevor (Ireland)