Scotland international Huw Jones is set to make a positional switch to the wing as he steps into the breach for injury-hit Glasgow Warriors in the highly anticipated opening leg of the 1872 Cup against Edinburgh on Friday. The 30-year-old, typically stationed in the center, will don the number 14 jersey due to the absence of regular back-three players Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, and Sebastian Cancelliere.
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With Stafford McDowall and Sione Tuipulotu forming the center pairing, the half-back partnership will be led by George Horne and Ross Thompson. Glasgow, currently in second place in the United Rugby Championship, has the opportunity to claim the top spot, if only temporarily, following their recent Champions Cup triumph against Bayonne.
Head coach Franco Smith expressed confidence in the squad, stating, “We have prepared well all week following our return from Bayonne, and every player in the squad put their hand up to strongly compete for selection. This group continues to drive each other forward and demand the best from each other.”
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The Scotstoun Stadium is set to witness a sold-out crowd for the highly anticipated inter-city derby, and Smith acknowledged the significance of the occasion, saying, “It will be a special atmosphere tomorrow night.”
Glasgow’s starting pack for the derby features six forwards who recently participated in the World Cup with Scotland: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Scott Cummings, and Rory Darge.
Apart from the aforementioned trio of Smith, Steyn, and Cancelliere, key players such as Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, Matt Fagerson, and Murphy Walker will be absent due to injuries. Despite the challenges, Glasgow is determined to conclude this block of fixtures on a positive note over the next two weeks.
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