Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, has kept faith with the starting XV that defeated reigning Magners League champions Munster 22-9 last weekend for Sunday’s visit of the Scarlets to Firhill (ko 5:05pm).
Only one change is made to the match-day 22, which has been forced upon Lineen, and that sees utility back Colin Gregor take Ruaridh Jackson’s place on the bench following the 21-year-old’s shoulder injury which occurred whilst scoring the only try of the game against Munster.
Glasgow and Scotland winger Thom Evans has scored a try double in each of the last two meetings between Glasgow and Scarlets and this time he could have the added incentive of lining up against fellow Scot and former Warrior Sean Lamont.
“Our last few games against the Scarlets have been pretty exciting,” he said. “It really suits my game when both sides try to play expansive rugby and bring their outside backs into play. That’s probably why I’ve managed to get a few decent scores against them over the past year.”
The resurgent Lamont underwent significant knee surgery back in November 2007, and following appearances for the Scotland 7s squad during the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Festival, scored a scorching try against Heineken Cup champions Leinster last weekend.
Although reckoning such a hot contest out on the flank could be good news for the Scotland team, Lineen is wary of the threat Lamont poses to his side. He said: “I’ve coached both Sean and Thom at Glasgow now. We all know a fit Sean Lamont is a very dangerous weapon. He showed he’s got his pace back when he scored against Leinster.
“From a Scotland perspective I’m delighted he’s back, but from a Glasgow perspective we need to make sure he’s kept under wraps.”
Looking forward to yet another colossal clash at Firhill, Lineen said: “Llanelli play a very expansive style of rugby and pose a very different threat to Munster.
“Players like Thom Evans can’t do much if the guys inside him, especially in the forward pack, don’t do their job. They put in a fantastic effort against Munster and now that’s the standard.
“Llanelli have a hard edge to their forward pack and have some really quality players in there. The test now is to put in another big performance against another very talented side.”
Glasgow Warriors 15 Bernardo Stortoni 14 Rob Dewey 13 Peter Murchie 12 Graeme Morrison 11 Thom Evans 10 Dan Parks 9 Chris Cusiter; 1 Jon Welsh 2 Dougie Hall 3 Moray Low 4 Tim Barker 5 Alastair Kellock (capt) 6 Kelly Brown 7 John Barclay 8 Johnnie Beattie
Replacements 16 Pat MacArthur 17 Kevin Tkachuk 18 Dan Turner 19 Richie Vernon 20 Mark McMillan 21 Colin Gregor 22 Colin Shaw
