Need to Know: Benetton v Glasgow Warriors, United Rugby Championship match preview 2021/22

KO 1.00 (2.00 CET) at Stadio Communale di Monigo
Saturday 27th November 2021
Live on Premier Sports 1

• 10 of the Glasgow starting lineup played in the ill-fated Rainbow Cup clash with Benetton at the Stadio Monigo in April – and should have revenge on their mind!
• Just 5 of the home side’s XV featured in that match.
• With an average age of 26.1 this is the youngest matchday 23 named by Glasgow so far this season.
• Veteran lock Richie Gray is the Warrior to Watch.

Teams

Head to Head:

Back 3 – EVEN
Centres – ADV Glasgow
Half Backs – ADV Glasgow
Front Row – ADV Benetton
Second Row – ADV Glasgow
Back Row – EVEN
Subs – EVEN

Glasgow Greetings:

Having joined up during the international break, Nathan McBeth should make his debut from the bench. The giant loosehead played for Scotland at under 20s level, alongside the likes of Rory Darge, Stafford McDowall and Ross Thompson so there should have been plenty of familiar faces to welcome him to Scotstoun!

Kiran McDonald is in line for his first appearance of 2021/22 after injury prevented him from having any involvement in block 1 of the season.

Matchday Milestones:

It has been more than four years since a back last captained Glasgow. On that occasion, it was scrum half Henry Pyrgos in charge against Cardiff in September 2017, this time round it will be centre, Sam Johnson. Sam is the 38th player named to captain the club.

Warrior to Watch:

It has been the best part of a decade since Richie Gray first played for Glasgow at the Stadio Monigo. His second row partner that day was Al Kellock, although Rob Harley was still right alongside him, playing at 6 on that occasion. These days Richie is among the club’s veterans – at 32 the oldest player in the matchday 23 and the only one born in the 1980s!

The lock still has a lot to offer the Warriors, as demonstrated by the fact he is the only Glasgow forward to start every match this season. He is still an absolute master at the lineout and his 126kgs adds plenty of heft to the scrum. Glasgow have three massive units coming through in the second row from the Academy system. If Jonny’s brother can help Euan Ferrie, Alex Samuel and Max Williamson break through in the coming seasons then his legacy really will live on at Scotstoun.

Glasgow away to Benetton in the URC/PRO12/14:

• 7 wins
• 1 loss
• 5 try BPs
• 1 losing BP
• 34 points out of a possible 40 (85%)

Previous match-up (in a proper tournament and glossing over the 46-19 drubbing that Benetton handed out to Glasgow in the Rainbow Cup in April because there is no way anyone is watching any of that back):

Officials:

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 6th league game)
AR1: Federico Boraso (FIR)
AR2: Filippo Russo (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

Mr van der Westhuizen’s record for 2020/21:

Matches – 11
Average penalty count – 21.5 per game
Home side penalties conceded percentage – 50.4%
Average card count – 1.5 per game
Penalties per card – 13.9

Having had Welsh, Irish and Italian refs so far this season, Glasgow will have their first South African official taking charge on Saturday. Mr van der Westhuizen is a new face for the Warriors, having spent most of the last seven years refereeing in Super Rugby. He was pretty liberal with the yellows last season and both sides will need to be wary of giving up 10 minutes shorthanded.

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Additional ref stats from: https://www.cardiffrfcfans.com/analysis/referee_heads.php?countryID=9