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What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role
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Scotland receive much-needed injury boost one week before Test series
By Josh Raisey
Scotland No.8 Jack Dempsey is set to make his first Glasgow Warriors appearance since January when he runs out at Scotstoun on Friday to face the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
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A hamstring sustained during the Six Nations has wiped out much of the 31-year-old’s 2025, and he was robbed of his return to action at the beginning of the season after sustaining a groin injury in the warm-up to the victory over the Sharks.
With fellow Glasgow back-row Rory Darge still out, this will be a welcome return for Scotland boss Gregor Townsend, with their Autumn Nations Series campaign getting underway against the USA next week.
The former Australia-turned-Scotland international is one of a handful of changes made to the team from outfit that triumphed over the Ospreys last week.
Another Scotland international, loosehead Jamie Bhatti, will also return to the starting XV having missed the last two weeks of action.
Speaking ahead of the match, Warriors boss Franco Smith said to glasgowwarriors.org: “We know we must be at our best this weekend, as we look to finish the first block of fixtures on a high.
“The Bulls possess one of the strongest and deepest squads in the URC; they are consistent in the quality of performances they produce, and their track record – including reaching three of the first four URC finals – shows the calibre and quality of squad they have at their disposal.
“We know we must be at the right level physically and mentally in order to meet their challenge tomorrow night.”
Glasgow Warriors XV
1 Jamie Bhatti (127)
2 Johnny Matthews (101)
3 Murphy Walker (18)
4 Max Williamson (35)
5 Scott Cummings (145)
6 Gregor Brown (38)
7 Matt Fagerson (128)
8 Jack Dempsey (55)
9 George Horne (142)
10 Adam Hastings (73)
11 Kyle Rowe (40)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (71)
13 Stafford McDowall (97)
14 Kyle Steyn (C) (95)
15 Josh McKay (67)
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Replacements
16 Seb Stephen (2)
17 Nathan McBeth (58)
18 Sam Talakai (24)
19 Alex Samuel (44)
20 Alex Craig (2)
21 Euan Ferrie (43)
22 Ben Afshar (24)
23 Dan Lancaster (4)