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November 26, 2009

Changes for Gael Force

Posted by Editor on November 26, 2009 10:04 PM | 4 comments | Print | E-mail author

Colin Gregor starts for Gael Force
Glasgow Colin Gregor starts at stand-off for Gael Force for the British & Irish Cup match with Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Following the opening day 29-8 loss at Cornish Pirates, Stevie Gemmell has reshuffled his pack and introduced a new-look back-row containing Glasgow's James Eddie and Calum Forrester and Edinburgh's David Callam.

National Academy players Colin Phillips (prop) and Robert Harley (lock) have been handed starting spots in the front five and Gemmell is aiming to see a more physical showing from his pack.

Gemmell said: “Last week, we didn’t win enough collisions and we are expecting another big, physical battle this week.

“Stuart McInally did well for us last week and he will be involved again. But it is important to get the balance of the back-row right and to bring in somebody with David’s experience is invaluable.

“David brings additional leadership to the squad and he is keen to be involved. He has already demonstrated this during team sessions and he brings that high level of experience to the fore.

“He has already played a couple of times for Boroughmuir since his return from injury, so he has some match fitness under his belt. This is the next step for David in his bid to be fully fit and challenging for a place in the Edinburgh team – which is where he wants to be.”

Gemmell admits some of the alterations to his line-up were forced because of injury, but believes he has selected the right blend of youth and experience for the trip to Sandy Park.

He added: “Some of the changes were made because of injury – Dan Turner, Davie Young, Hefin O’Hare and a couple of others as well.

“Both James Eddie and Calum Forrester played their way into the starting line-up. They performed well, fronted up at Pirates and deserve their opportunity.”

In the backs, Colin Gregor, fresh from featuring for Scotland ‘A’ against Tonga, has been allocated the stand-off berth with David Blair switched across to full-back.

Gemmell explains that the reasoning behind those decisions is that he is trying to make the most of the talent at his disposal.

He said: “It is about getting our best backs on the pitch. We have a sitation where we have both Colin Gregor and David Blair and it is a case of trying to utilize both of them on the pitch. They are both interchangeable and we will be looking to do that during the game.”

Exeter include former Glasgow pro Sean Marsden in their line-up.

Gael Force squad to play Exeter Chiefs in the British and Irish Cup at Sandy Park (Saturday 21 November, ko 3.00pm)

15 David Blair (Edinburgh)

14 Chris Kinloch (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Peter Murchie (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Tom Bury (National Academy and Boroughmuir)

10 Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Peter Jericevich (National Academy and Glasgow Hawks)

1 Nicky Little (National Academy and Hawick)
2 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)
3 Colin Phillips (National Academy and Stewart's Melville)
4 Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh)
5 Robert Harley (National Academy and West of Scotland)
6 James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Calum Forrester (Glasgow Warriors)
8 David Callam (Edinburgh)

Substitutes: Sean Crombie (Edinburgh), Dougie Orr (National Academy and Haddington), Neale Patrick (National Academy and Boroughmuir), Stuart McInally (National Academy and Watsonians), Ross Samson (Edinburgh), Stevie Wilson (National Academy and Edinburgh Academicals), Ashleah McCulloch (National Academy and Watsonians)

Posted by AJPatterson on November 27, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply to this comment

Jedi and Fozzy "playing their way into the team"??? These guys kept top class internationals out of the Glasgow team at times last year. Jedi was a key part of the team that beat Toulouse. Get real, these are the FIRST players you put on your teamsheet if you can get your hands on them. I think there's a reason Stevie Gemmell isn't coaching at a higher level.....

By the way, good luck to Rob Harley - very much a player for the future.

Posted by Phall on November 27, 2009 05:01 PM | Reply to this comment

Are they playing all their fixtures away?

Posted by Opinion on November 27, 2009 05:28 PM | Reply to this comment

I agree with the both points made by AJ. Jedi is on his way back from injury again and will be back fighting for a place in Glasgow and probably Scotland as was mentioned last year after the two Edinburgh games! And Foz seems always to have been hard done by, it's a position where Glasgow have a huge mount of talent and promise and on performances Foz has been hard done by time after time, after producing every time he's been called upon!

Gemmell is a joke! He has one of the best jobs in the world never mind rugby! He travels the world financed by the SRU and by the use of the simple term, a platform for academy players to develop, has managed to avoid a lot of criticism that would normally have been thrown his way!

Posted by Sceptic on November 29, 2009 09:16 PM | Reply to this comment

Only surprise is that Gael Force didnt go down to a heavier defeat . The front five Gemmell picked ( excluding Fergus Thomson )was never going to compete at this level and the match report seems to confirmm this . Maybe for the next game he will pick some good young props from premier one to give them some development ahead of the club international.

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