Connacht v Glasgow: Teams
Glasgow coach Sean Lineen has dubbed Friday's Magners League clash against Connacht at the Sportsground as a 'can win' game.
Last Updated: 18/09/08 3:17pm
Glasgow coach Sean Lineen has dubbed Friday's Magners League clash against Connacht at the Sportsground as a 'can win' game.
Glasgow head to Ireland looking to add to Connacht's woes, but Lineen is not under too much pressure just yet.
"The Connacht game isn't a 'must win', it's a 'can win'," he said.
"They beat us last year over there in stormy conditions and they'll be hurting after a heavy defeat to the Scarlets last week. Connacht will be targeting this as a win but so will we."
To that effect Lineen has made four changes to the side that lost to the Ospreys last time out. Opeta Palepoi replaces the injured Tim Barker in the second row and Stevie Swindall comes in for Kelly Brown at blindside flanker. As a result, Brown moves to number eight and Johnnie Beattie drops to the bench.
In the backs Max Evans has recovered from a dead leg to replace Andrew Henderson, whilst Hefin O'Hare takes his place on the right wing ahead of Lome Fa'atau.
Michael Bradley has made six changes to his side as Connacht look to get back to winning ways.
Robbie Morris, John Hearty, Andy Dunne and Keith Matthews all passed fitness tests on Thursday to give Bradley a big boost heading into Friday's match.
In the backs Liam Bibo returns on the right wing, with John Hearty taking his place on the left wing and Frank Murphy starts at scrum-half. Up front Robbie Morris starts at tighthead prop alongside Sean Cronin with Colm Rigney starting at number eight.
Connacht: 15 Fionn Carr, 14 Liam Bibo, 13 Gavin Duffy, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 John Hearty, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Cronin, 3 Robbie Morris, 4 Michael McCarthy, 5 Andrew Farley, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Ray Ofisa, 8 Colm Rigney.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Jonny O'Connor, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Andy Dunne 22 Mel Deane.
Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mark McMillan, 1 Justin Va'a, 2 Dougie Hall, 3 Moray Low, 4 Opeta Palepoi, 5 Alastair Kellock (c), 6 Stevie Swindall, 7 John Barclay, 8 Kelly Brown.
Replacements: 16 Eric Milligan, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Johnnie Beattie, 20 Andrew Henderson, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Ruaridh Jackson.