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Glasgow opt for mass rotation for trip to Ospreys

Franco Smith - PA

Franco Smith has made wholesale changes to his Glasgow Warriors side to face the Ospreys in Bridgend on Saturday evening in the United Rugby Championship, with 12 alterations – three of them positional – from the team that swept aside the Dragons 49-0 last weekend.

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Only captain Kyle Steyn, centre Sione Tuipulotu and fly-half Adam Hastings retain their places in the same positions, while Ollie Smith moves from outside centre to full-back, Jamie Dobie shifts from the wing to scrum-half, and Euan Ferrie switches from No.8 to blindside flanker.

Patrick Schickerling and Murphy Walker come into an all-new front-row alongside centurion hooker Johnny Matthews, while Alex Samuel returns to partner Max Williamson in the second-row. Matt Fagerson makes his first start of the season at No.8, joining Ferrie and Angus Fraser in a new-look back-row.

Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall reunite in midfield, while Steyn resumes his place on the wing alongside Kyle Rowe and Smith in the back three.

Among the replacements, Scotland U20 hooker Seb Stephen is set for his first appearance of the season, while Nathan McBeth returns from injury and Jare Oguntibeju and Alex Craig provide second-row cover.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Ospreys
17 - 42
Full-time
Glasgow
All Stats and Data

Looking ahead to the match at Brewery Field, Smith said: “We were pleased with the result last weekend, but know that there is still plenty for us to build and improve upon as we move forward.

“The Ospreys have shown that they can pose problems for any team. They defend their home record proudly, so we know we’ll need to raise our level to meet their challenge.”

Glasgow Warriors XV: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Kyle Steyn (C), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Jamie Dobie; 1 Patrick Schickerling, 2 Johnny Matthews, 3 Murphy Walker, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Alex Samuel, 6 Euan Ferrie, 7 Angus Fraser, 8 Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Alex Craig, 21 Macenzie Duncan, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Dan Lancaster.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

We aren't miles ahead of any other nation in terms of talent at all. I agree Borthwick is a mediocre coach but let's not get carried away. France have won the u20 world cup three out of the last five times and just beat us in both the u20 and u18 six nations… and I don't think many people would claim we've got more talent than SA or the ABs either. Ibitoye isn't someone you want in a test match, he's so unpredictable. In a tight test match there are very few scoring opportunities for wingers but there are lots of opportunities for wingers to make defensive misreads and balls things up. In a tightly contested, low scoring game, you'd much rather have someone like Feyi Wabosi who has X factor but can be relied upon to defend properly or not have a brain farts, we've got other good wingers without needing Ibitoye.

I agree in general with your sentiment but we should be realistic. We've won the u20 WC once in the last decade, won the six nations only twice. A prem club hasn't won anything in Europe since Bristol won the challenge cup when they had Piutau, Radradra. There is talent out there for sure but our clubs and u20s aren't enjoying the level of success which could support statements about us having the most talent in the world. If a new coach comes in they aren't going to wave a magic wand and make us the best team in the world. There are a lot of structural problems and engrained attitudes which need to be overcome within the RFU and Prem etc. Plus any new coach is going to have to undo the damage Borthwick and Wigglesworth have done. They're going to have their work cut out for them.



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