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November 04, 2010

Al is back

Posted by Editor on November 4, 2010 11:44 AM | 11 comments | Print | E-mail author

Alastair Kellock returns to action
Glasgow Warriors captain Alastair Kellock will make his eagerly awaited return to action tomorrow night in what will be the club’s first ever Magners League match against Italian opposition.

Al has not played since he captained Scotland to an historic two-test series victory over Argentina in the summer. However, he will lead the Warriors against Aironi in the final match before the break for the autumn internationals.

On his return to the team, he said: “It’s been a tough time for me over the past few months trying to get back fit again.

“I’m not a very good spectator because I’d much rather be on the park with the boys, so I’m delighted to get back involved.

“I now hope I can use all the hard work I’ve put in with the physio and fitness staff to my benefit and the team’s benefit.”

Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, added: “We’re delighted to have him back. He’s a world class leader and captain of Glasgow.

“He’s been stomping around Scotstoun the last couple of weeks desperate to be involved, so he’s got a smile on his face now.

“He knows the job he has to do tomorrow night. It’s not going to be easy in the boiler house amongst the experience that the Italians will have.”

Aironi are one of two new Italian teams to enter the Magners League this year (the other being Benetton Treviso), and are an amalgamation of clubs Viadana, Colorno, Gran Parma, Mantova, Parma 1931 and Noceto.

Sean continued: “We’re looking forward to the visit of Aironi. “Although they’ve struggled a bit so far, they’ve got some quality players.

“Every game we’ve seen of them, it’s been a real struggle for the opposition. They’re very stuffy and their forward pack is very dangerous.”

Last weekend saw Glasgow outscore Llanelli Scarlets in the try count before succumbing to fundamental errors. However, the memory of their last outing at Firhill, in which they came from 11-16 down to beat reigning Magners League champions Ospreys 31-23, is one which they are keen to emulate.

“We’ve got to make sure we continue the form we’ve shown,” Sean continued, “especially against the Ospreys at home, before the international break.

“It’s lapses in defence and lapses in discipline that is costing us big time.

“We scored two tries to nil against one of the best attacking teams in the league. So we’re doing something right.

“We need a result. There’s nothing else for it. But we’ve got to look at the performance first.”

Glasgow Warriors

15 Bernardo Stortoni

14 Colin Shaw
13 Federico Aramburu
12 Rob Dewey
11 DTH van der Merwe

10 Duncan Weir
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Jon Welsh
2 Dougie Hall
3 Ed Kalman
4 Tom Ryder
5 Alastair Kellock CAPTAIN
6 Robert Harley
7 Forrester">Calum Forrester
8 Ryan Wilson

Substitutes: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Kevin Tkachuk, 18 Moray Low, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Peter Murchie, 23 Hefin O'Hare

Posted by ballinj on November 4, 2010 12:18 PM | Reply to this comment

Interesting team - looks quite good though surprised to Arumbura at centre, will be interesting to see as he could be quite good there.

Good to see change at scrum half as Gregor had a shocker last week, kicking far too often and badly at that. Need to learn that the new rules favour the team with the ball and last week far too often the ball was kicked away (badly at that).

Good to see Al back.

Still waiting for an answer as to where Dave McCall is playing his rugby this season as he isn't mentioned in the players released to the clubs.

Posted by Muzzer_mc on November 4, 2010 12:36 PM | Reply to this comment

I think McCall is on the long term injury list

Posted by gordon on November 4, 2010 12:37 PM | Reply to this comment

Dave McCall played for Melrose at the weekend

Posted by AD on November 4, 2010 04:09 PM | Reply to this comment

Pyrgos kicked quite a bit when he came on as well. All depends on our tactics I suppose.

Posted by Kazakh Warrior on November 4, 2010 01:37 PM | Reply to this comment

Pretty untested back line - which is a bit of a worry organisation-wise. I have no prediction about how that will work out.

The pack looks sound enough though. What is Forrester like at 7? We need a fetcher or the Italians will try to starve us...

Posted by russ on November 4, 2010 01:57 PM | Reply to this comment

get in - think this is exactly what the lads need!

Posted by Alan on November 4, 2010 05:19 PM | Reply to this comment

Surprised to see the Canadians there .. team play Belgium the next day..I suppose the coach is confident of a win without their best prop and best centre! :) just don't get injured before the other games.

Posted by craigchalmers on November 4, 2010 06:08 PM | Reply to this comment

Belgium game is outwith the IRB test window, so Canada couldn't have called them up even if they wanted to. Well, not unless Sean decided to let them go. (although I get the impression they didn't want them)

Besides, Aironi will probably provide stiffer opposition to both of them than Belgium would. Lets just hope DTH joins up with Canada full of confidence having bagged a couple of tries tomorrow... :D

Posted by sunday5 on November 4, 2010 05:28 PM | Reply to this comment

Where's Richie Gray? Are he and Max at the Scotland camp?

Posted by ballinj on November 4, 2010 08:10 PM | Reply to this comment

indeed - and giving the comments today by AR sounds like there is a good chance of RG playing next week

Posted by Moody Blue on November 4, 2010 10:20 PM | Reply to this comment

Dave McCall did indeed play for Melrose - his allocated P1 club - on Saturday, his season's debut. I think he has had ongoing groin problems. Sadly, their website reported he lasted just 24 minutes, before he had a badly dislocated finger, or some other hand injury. It seems to have been Sean's pattern this year to get guys up to match fitness with 2 or 3 Premier 1 games before putting them in a match day 23 (with the exception of Kellock who comes straight in). So hopefully Dave will get another game or two at club level soon & then we will see him in Glasgow colours.

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