Glasgow Warriors | Steyn and Smith in the mix
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December 18, 2024

Steyn and Smith in the mix

Posted by Editor on December 18, 2024 09:17 PM | No comments | Print | E-mail author

Kyle Steyn is back in training and is in the mix to face Edinburgh
Kyle Steyn and Ollie Smith are back in the selection mix as Glasgow Warriors prepare for this weekend's historic meeting with Edinburgh at Hampden.

It's is the first time in the pro era that Glasgow have played at the national football stadium.

Club captain Steyn has not played since injuring his ankle in the win over Benetton in the second game of the season while Smith's absence has been even longer. The full-back suffered an ACL injury against Bayonne in December last year but got in some gametime for Emerging Scotland against Italy U23 on Saturday.

"It's great to see him back," said Peter Murchie, the Glasgow assistant coach, in The Scotsman. "I think he got 50 minutes for the emerging team so that was good. He played a bit at 13 too so it was great. It's pretty much been a year he's been out, so it's really good to get him back. For him to pick up those minutes is going to be really important because we have got so many important games coming up.

"He's in contention [to play against Edinburgh]. He did pretty well considering it was his first hit-out. The back three is very hotly contested, isn't it? We've got a lot of options available to us in that area. He’s certainly available."

Murchie said a decision on Steyn would be made nearer the end of the week.

"Yeah, he's training, we just need to make a call there," said Murchie. "Obviously we've got so many class wingers available to us. Kyle is back in training, that's the main thing, and he has been for a couple of weeks, so that's good to see. We just need to make that call on who we go with."

Glasgow will wait for news on Stafford McDowall who has been cited for an incident in last Sunday's Champions Cup clash with Toulon and faces a disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

Murchie added that he had sympathy for McDowall who is alleged to have "made contact with the eye or eye area" of Toulon No 8 Facundo Isa.

"I didn't see the incident in real time," said Murchie. "I wouldn't want to say too much until he's had the hearing. It's really unfortunate. Knowing Stafford, he is certainly not a malicious player. We'll have to see what happens in the hearing in terms of the ramifications.

"We're cracking on until we know what the outcome of the hearing is but obviously it's disappointing for him and for us. He was excellent against Toulon with his short, kicking game. Offensively, he was outstanding."

More positive news for Glasgow is that Huw Jones is available again and it is likely he will resume his partnership in the centre with Sione Tuipulotu, replacing McDowall.

Scotland Rugby News is also reporting that Jare Oguntibeju is a doubt for Sunday's match after picking up a leg injury in the closing stages of the Glasgow's narrow defeat in Toulon.