You can read more of Disco's thoughts on Glasgow's URC and European campaigns, Scotland's international fortunes, and much, much more at his excellent blog On Top of the Moon.
KO 7.35 at Scotstoun Stadium
Friday 3rd November 2023
Live on Viaplay Sports 1
- Tom Jordan is the only member of Glasgow's starting XV who hasn't played Test rugby.
- Stormers have only won 3 of the 11 matches they have played in the UK and Ireland since the start of the 2021/22 season. In the URC they knocked over the Dragons at Dave Parade and managed a last minute win at Scarlets. They also had a comfortable win against the now defunct London Irish in the Champions Cup.
- Just 19 of the 46 players (10 for the home side and 9 for the visitors) featured when these sides met at Scotstoun ten months ago.
- The Glasgow backline is very similar to the one that notched 4 absolutely banging tries though, with 5 returnees plus Stafford McDowall and Kyle Rowe in place of Huw Jones and Kyle Steyn.
- Playing a proper openside means the Warriors pack weight is the same as last week - 945kgs. A duo of giant-sized locks contributes to the tight 5 weighing in at a mighty 610kgs though - 122kgs per man. That's compared to 572kgs total / 114kgs per man for their direct opponents on Friday.
- Powerhouse tighthead, Zander Fagerson, is the Warrior to Watch.
Teams
15 O. SMITH (33)
14 S. CANCELLIERE (26)
13 S. TUIPULOTU (36)
12 S. MCDOWALL (c) (59)
11 K. ROWE (1)
10 T. Jordan (26)
9 G. HORNE (101)
1 O. KEBBLE (87)
2 J. MATTHEWS (52)
3 Z. FAGERSON (130)
4 G. PETERSON (35)
5 R. GRAY (102)
6 M. FAGERSON (95)
7 R. DARGE (34)
8 S. VAILANU (21)
Substitutes
16 A. Fraser (5)
17 J. BHATTI (89)
18 L. SORDONI (17)
19 S. CUMMINGS (108)
20 A. Samuel (8)
21 H. Venter (2)
22 J. DOBIE (53)
23 D. WEIR (137)
Stormers
15 W. GELANT (25)
14 A. Davids (25)
13 B. Loader (2)
12 S. Mngomezulu (19)
11 L. Zas (46)
10 J. du Plessis (46)
9 H. JANTJIES (65)
1 A. Vermaak (61)
2 J. DWEBA (26)
3 N. Fouche (58)
4 B. Dixon (33)
5 R. van Heerden (12)
6 W. Engelbrecht (35)
7 E. ROOS (37)
8 K. Morabe (1)
Substitutes
16 A. Venter (26)
17 L. GQOBOKA (1)
18 B. Harris (48)
19 A. Smith (21)
20 G. Porter (9)
21 M. Theunissen (36)
22 S. Ungerer (8)
23 C. Blommetjies (23)
(players in CAPITALS are full capped internationals)
Head to Head:
Back 3 - EVEN
Centres - ADV Glasgow Warriors
Half Backs - EVEN
Front Row - ADV Glasgow Warriors
Second Row - EVEN
Back Row - ADV Glasgow Warriors
Subs - EVEN
Glasgow Greetings:
There's a return to action for the first time this season for four Scotland players - Matt Fagerson, Sione Tuipulotu, Ollie Smith and, from the bench, Jamie Bhatti.
There's also a competitive home debut for new signing Kyle Rowe who notched a try on his first friendly appearance at Scotstoun as well as a try in his first proper game last week away to Connacht. If he can keep up this kind of scoring rate he will no doubt quickly become a fan favourite!
Warrior to Watch:
It's hard to believe but this is Zander Fagerson's 10th season as a full-time professional rugby player. Still only 27 years old, he has been a cornerstone of the Glasgow pack for most of his time with the club. Zander brings a massive amount of energy to how the Warriors play and his workrate outshines most props in the league.
He currently sits in the top 10 (all players) for tackles made (with a 100% completion rate) and is also in the top 100 for carries. The amount of graft he puts in and his influence on the game - including other areas like his ability to win jackal turnovers - are a great example for any up and coming young props as to what's required to make it to the level of a first choice pro and international in what is still one of the toughest positions.
Zander will be united with wee bro, Matt, in the starting lineup for the first time this season. The Fagersons are starting together for the 42nd time for Glasgow and this will be the 56th time in total that they have both featured in for the club. Only Gordon and Alan Bulloch (66 starts and 83 games together) have managed more matches among the various fraternal pairings that have played for the Warriors.
Previous match-up at Scotstoun:
Glasgow at home to South African sides in the PRO12/PRO14/URC era:
- 8 wins
- 7 try BPs
- 39 points out of a possible 40 (98%)
Officials:
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 32nd league game)
AR1: David Sutherland (SRU)
AR2: Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Mr Busby's regular season record for 2022/23:
Matches - 13
Average penalty count - 23.5 per game
Home side penalties conceded percentage - 41.8%
Average card count - 1.0 per game
Penalties per card - 23.5
This will be Mr Busby's 9th time taking charge of a game involving the Warriors and his 6th trip to Scotstoun so he should be well used to how things go for referees on Danes Drive!
The Irish official has one of the lowest rates of penalties awarded against the home side. The Warrior Nation will no doubt be quick to help the ref identify any offences committed against Glasgow. Slightly less 16th man and more 5th official...