O'Toole gets his Warriors debut
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:41
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, is hoping that his side can replicate the same kind of form on the road this season following their away record of four wins, three losses and two draws on the road to the inaugural playoffs last season.
However, the Warriors face Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday afternoon, a team they will face for the third consecutive season in both the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
But coming off the back of a rousing 22-19 victory over Leinster last weekend, Lineen has every confidence that the Warriors can continue their impressive form when they visit Rodney Parade.
"This is a huge game," he said. "We had a good away record last season of four wins and two draws, but we're travelling down to Newport and it's going to be difficult.
"All six home teams won at the weekend so it's going to form in terms of home advantage but it's going to crack at some point and it would be great for us to do it against Newport on Sunday.
"Newport are going to be tough but it's a good one to get after the high against Leinster."
On the importance of starting the season with a win in front of the home support at Firhill, Lineen continued: "It was really important to get a win first up at home in front of the crowd. The new guys all did well and the subs were fantastic when they came on. It was great to see the smile on the players' faces after the game.
"But it's a long season and it's my job to make sure we're organised, prepared and motivated for the game ahead."
The Warriors have made two changes to the starting XV that defeated Leinster last weekend, both of which are in the forwards.
Ed Kalman starts at tighthead prop in place of Moray Low who is named among the replacements whilst Canadian international Chauncey O'Toole, who joined the Warriors on a short-term contract this week, is named at blindside flanker in place of Ryan Wilson who drops out of the match-day 23.
The most notable inclusion on the bench is that of utility back Colin Gregor who is poised to make his return to frontline action following knee surgery at the end of last season.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni (captain), 14 DTH van der Merwe, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Federico Aramburu, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 Chauncey O'Toole, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Moray Low, 18 Ryan Grant, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Rob Harley, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Hefin O'Hare.
Date: Sunday, September 12
Venue: Rodney Parade
Kick-off: 16.10 (15.10 GMT)
Referee: TBA (Italy)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), David Williams (Wales)
TMO: Tony
Rowlands (Wales)
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