Glasgow opt for mass rotation for trip to Ospreys

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.

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.