Warriors eye top two slot with an Italian job
Townsend warns his side of complacency ahead of Treviso tie
GLASGOW Warriors could force their way into the top two of the PRO12 if they win their next two games and other results go their way – but Gregor Townsend is taking nothing for granted as he prepares his team to take on the league’s bottom two clubs.
The head coach set off with a squad of 35 yesterday for the Warriors’ double-header, against Benetton Treviso tonight then Zebre next Friday. The Italian sides have won only half a dozen games between them, and are locked in their own private battle to claim the Champions Cup place that goes to whichever of them finishes higher in the table.
But Townsend will tell his players there is no room for complacency as their defence of the championship reaches a crucial stage.
And, if they need any reminding of how tough Treviso can be, he will only have to remind them of how they struggled to a 13-6 win over the Italians at Scotstoun back in November.
“The weather was slightly different – it was a wet ball and they played smarter rugby,” Townsend said yesterday after naming his team for this evening’s match. “We couldn’t get the ball off them. We made a couple of mistakes when we had possession close to their line, so we didn’t build on some of the good work, but we showed enough character to get the win.
“They’ve shown at home in the last couple of games – they almost beat Munster and the two games before that they won..”
As ever, the Warriors will concentrate on securing the win this evening before thinking about chasing the bonus point. “Every game has its own story,” Townsend added.
“If you play well and the opposition maybe doesn’t play as well, then you get opportunities to score, but we don’t know how the game is going to flow, or what level they’re going to be at.”
Adam Ashe takes over from the injured Ryan Wilson in the back row this evening, with Josh Strauss moving from No 8 to No 6. Simone Favaro, a former Tre- viso player, replaces the injured Chris Fusaro at openside. Wilson and hooker Pat MacArthur are both expected to be fit to play against Zebre next week.
The other change from last week’s home win over Ulster sees Tim Swinson selected at lock instead of Leone Nakarawa. In the backs, Taqele Naiyaravoro comes in on the right wing for Tommy Seymour, and Peter Horne replaces Dunbar at inside centre.
Glasgow Warriors (v Benetton Treviso, tomorrow, Stadio Monigo, kick-off 4.30pm British time, live on BBC Alba): S Hogg; T Naiyaravoro, M Bennett, P Horne, S Lamont; F Russell, H Pyrgos; G Reid, F Brown, S Puafisi, T Swinson, J Gray, J Strauss, S Favaro, A Ashe. Substitutes: J Malcolm, J Yanuyanutawa, D Rae, L Nakarawa, T Holmes, G Hart, G Bryce, L Jones.