Preview: Treviso v Glasgow

Editor

Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori returns to the Treviso starting XV for Sunday’s Pro12 clash with league leaders Glasgow at Stadio Monigo.

Italy scrum-half Edoardo Gori returns to the Treviso starting XV for Sunday’s Pro12 clash with league leaders Glasgow at Stadio Monigo.

In further changes to the side that loss to the Dragons, Matteo Muccignat starts at loosehead prop while Angelo Esposito is on the right wing.

On the bench, Alberto Lucchese will make his Treviso debut if he comes on.

Meanwhile, Pat MacArthur will make his 100th appearance for Glasgow Warriors.

Also included in the 23-man squad are 18-year-old Zander Fagerson and 21-year-old Ali Price, who are named amongst the replacements.

Stuart Hogg continues at full-back, while Sean Lamont moves from the right wing to outside centre, with Tommy Seymour coming into the starting XV. Peter Horne comes in at inside centre in place of James Downey.

Niko Matawalu returns from injury at scrum-half in place of Henry Pyrgos.

Alex Allan and Rossouw de Klerk come into the front-row in place of Gordon Reid and Euan Murray and will pack down with centurion MacArthur at hooker.

Tom Ryder makes his first start for the Warriors since February in the engine room.

James Eddie comes in for Rob Harley at blindside flanker, Tyrone Holmes is recalled after suspension at openside and Josh Strauss returns from injury at Number eight.

“We’re expecting a big challenge in Treviso on Sunday afternoon and our defence will have to be at its best. We’ve worked hard on this area in training and the players have tackled well this week,” said Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend.

“We’re delighted to have Zander and Ali in the squad this weekend. Zander’s first opportunity comes off the back of the way he’s trained with us and played for Glasgow Hawks. Ali has recovered well from his knee injury, which he had last season and has been in cracking form for Stirling County. They also both played very well in the recent ‘A’ fixture against Edinburgh Rugby.

“One of our more experienced players will be making his 100th appearance for the club this weekend and I want to congratulate Pat on this fantastic achievement.”

Form: Benetton Treviso have slipped to seven straight defeats in the Guinness PRO12 since beating Newport Gwent Dragons at home on 12th April. The Italians have lost back-to-back PRO12 fixtures at the Stadio Monigo but have not lost three in a row in the tournament at the venue since April 2012. Glasgow Warriors are breathing down the necks of leaders Ospreys, with a four wins from four record so far in the Guinness PRO12, whilst their only defeat in the tournament since early March came in last season’s final against Leinster. Glasgow have won their last 11 matches against Italian opponents since Treviso beat them 15-13 at Firhill in September 2011. The two sides have met on eight previous occasions in the PRO12 with Treviso’s only two victories both being recorded in the calendar year of 2011.

The teams:

Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Marco Lazzaroni, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Muccignat.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Maistri, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Francesco Minto, 20 Leo Auva’a, 21 Marco Barbini, 22 Sam Christie, 23 Alberto Lucchese.

Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 6 James Eddie, 5 Al Kellock (c), 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Ali Price, 22 Finn Russell, 23 James Downey

Date: Sunday, October 5
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 BST, 13:00 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Monigo
Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU, 3rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano, Andrea Spadoni (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Stefan Marrama (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)