European Rugby Champions Cup: Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse preview

Glasgow Warriors will aim to make amends for their European Rugby Champions Cup slip at the Stade Ernest-Wallon when they host Toulouse in a return fixture at Scotstoun on Saturday.

The Warriors suffered a 19-11 defeat at the hands of the Frenchmen and head coach Gregor Townsend was left to lament his side’s indiscipline as they endured their first loss of the campaign.

In Europe this season Glasgow have conceded just under 15 penalties per match on average – far too many against the top sides in the continent – and Finn Russell’s sin-binning proved costly for the Warriors in Toulouse.

With the fly-half shown a yellow card for a tackle on opposite number Jean-Marc Doussain, Toulouse took advantage by scoring 13 points during the 10-minute period Glasgow were reduced to 14 men.

Townsend will be desperate to eradicate the indiscipline and seize the home advantage; should they do so, the Warriors would leapfrog Toulouse and take control of Pool Four.

Richie Vernon will start at outside centre for Glasgow, when they host French Top 14 side Toulouse at Scotstoun after impressing from the bench last Sunday.

Vernon’s inclusion comes at the expense of Peter Horne, while Alex Dunbar moves to inside centre.

Personnel changes

There are two other personnel changes with Tim Swinson coming in for Leone Nakarawa in the second-row and Ryan Wilson replacing the injured Chris Fusaro in the back-row. Wilson starts on the blindside, with Rob Harley moving to openside.

Stuart Hogg retains his place at full-back, with Sean Maitland named on the right wing and Tommy Seymour starting on the opposite side, while Finn Russell continues at stand-off and is joined by Henry Pyrgos in the half-backs.

Sean Lamont could make his 50th European appearance from the bench, while prop Euan Murray returns to the matchday squad after recovering from a groin injury.

Similarly, there are three changes for Toulouse as they aim to do the double over the Guinness PRO12 side.

France wing Yoann Huget is promoted from the bench to the run-on side and joins Clement Poitrenaud and Maxime Medard in the back three, with Yann David and Gael Fickou resuming their centre pairing.

Jean-Marc Doussain and Sebastien Bezy are again the axis pairing and they stand behind a pack which sees two changes.

Captain Thierry Dusautoir is fully-fit to lead the side and joins Yannick Nyanga and Louis Picamoles in the back-row, while Vasil Kakovin is replaced by Gurthro Steenkamp at prop.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tommy Seymour; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos; 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Jon Welsh; 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Jonny Gray; 6 Ryan Wilson, 7 Rob Harley, 8 Josh Strauss (capt)

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Niko Matawalu, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Sean Lamont

Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud; 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Yann David , 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Maxime Médard; 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sébastien Bézy; 1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Corey Flynn, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Joe Tekori, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 7 Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 8 Louis Picamoles
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Romain Millo-Chluski, 20 Gregory Lamboley, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Vincent Clerc, 23 Alexis Palisson

Watch Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse live on Sky Sports 2HD from 12:30pm on Saturday