Need to Know: Glasgow v Dragons match preview

KO 7.35 at Scotstoun Stadium, Friday 16th October
Buy tickets online
No TV coverage so get yourself along to Scotstoun!

Team Talk

Glasgow welcome back the first 2 of their World Cup Warriors but that still leaves 19 on international duty. Adding new boy Taqele Naiyarovoro and old boy Alex Dunbar really strengthens a back line that has been decimated by Scotland call-ups and injuries.

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Teams

Glasgow Greetings:
Taqele Naiyarovo, Greg Peterson and Simone Favaro will be Warriors debutantes 11, 12, and 13 of the season. Along with Alex Dunbar who makes his first appearance they also take the number of players used up to 33 in only the fourth match of the campaign. With 19 still to return from international duty the Toonie Tombola record of 52 players used in a season looks under serious threat.

Once Were Warriors:
No ex-Glasgow players to report.

Matchday Milestones:
Greg Peterson or Simone Favaro (whoever comes on second of the two) will be the 90th player to play for Glasgow under coach Gregor Townsend.

Warriors One to Watch:
After all the build up it could only be one man – The Big T, Taqele Naiyarovoro. It’s been a will he / won’t he then when will he come saga but anybody with any connection to Glasgow rugby has to be excited to see what this man can do. He will be a completely unique prospect in the Pro 12 – there is no-one even remotely similar to him in offering the unbridled power he brings to bear in the wing position. The Warriors back line need to be working hard to give him the space to do what he has done so well in recent months for the Waratahs, international select XVs and Australia.

Head to Head:
Back 3 – ADV Glasgow
Centres – EVEN
Half Backs – EVEN
Front Row – ADV Dragons
Second Row – EVEN
Back Row – ADV Glasgow

Toonie’s Track Record…
…against Dragons:

• 4 wins and 2 losses. 3 Try BPs, 1 Losing BP. 20 points in total.
• The Dragons are 1 of only 4 teams who have defeated Glasgow at Scotstoun in the Townsend era.
• Glagow have only taken 9 points from Toonie’s 3 home fixtures v the Drags – equal lowest with Leinster and the Scarlets.
• Dragons are the only side to do the double (win the home and away legs) against Glasgow in the last 2 seasons.

Last season’s match-up:

1
Penalty tries for Glasgow – the only penalty try they were awarded in the entire season.

5
Lineout takes by Al Kellock. Scott Cummings has some big boots to fill.

19
Number of scrums – well above the season average of 15. This is an area of the game where Glasgow have struggled in the early part of the season and the Dragons are always well-drilled at the set piece. Gregor Townsend will be hoping Zander Fagerson has had his Weetabix (other breakfast cereals are available).

100
Percentage of kicks made by Rhys Jones which nearly proved fatal to Glasgow’s ambitions. Jason Tovey should have the kicking duties for the Dragon this Friday and Glasgow need to be wary of the threat posed by a man who has not yet missed a kick this season.

480
Total metres run by both teams – the lowest of the season by almost 100m. It was an offensively poor game and a capacity crowd at Scotstoun will be praying for better entertainment from both teams this season.

Home and Away:
Glasgow are trying to build another winning home run after getting back on track (narrowly) against Connacht last time out. Dragons were actually the last side to win at Scotstoun before the Warriors started their 20-match winning streak at home in the Pro 12 – the run that was ended on the opening day of the season against Scarlets.

Dragons have not won away in 2 attempts this season. They won 2 of their last 3 away from home last season – including a hugely creditable victory over Leinster at the RDS. On the flip side they lost in Italy against Zebre 2 weeks later and it’s this inconsistency that has held them back. They are always capable of pulling off a one-off big performance.

Officials:
Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU, 15th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Stephen Hart (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (SRU)

The second appearance of the season at Scotstoun for Mr. Conway who took a while to get wise to the Scarlets but ended up yellow carding 3 of their players. He has sin binned 6 players in his 2 matches this season so best behaviour is a must!