Glasgow v Connacht team news: Tasty Sione Tuipulotu-Bundee Aki head-to-head as British & Irish Lion bolsters Franco Smith’s pack
Glasgow Warriors Sione Tuipulotu and Connacht's Bundee Aki.
The teams for the first United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final between Glasgow Warriors and Connacht have been named.
Warriors boss Franco Smith has been bolstered by the return of British and Irish Lions lock Scott Cummings, who will make his first appearance since January.
Smith has made several alterations to his team for Friday night’s knockout game, with the starting line-up boasting 12 internationals.
Glasgow changes
Patrick Schickerling combines with hooker Johnny Matthews and tighthead Zander Fagerson in the front-row after being rested for the URC round 18 clash against Ulster, while Cummings partners Alex Samuel in the second-row.
The all-Scotland international loose trio of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey completes the forward pack with the former duo also returning to the run-on team after being rested for the trip to Ulster.
George Horne and Dan Lancaster combine in the half-backs yet again while Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall are the starting centres with Huw Jones sidelined with a foot injury. Kyle Steyn captains the side from the wing and is joined in the back three by Kyle Rowe and Josh McKay.
Smith has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench as Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland and Sam Talakai cover the front-row, whilst Euan Ferrie, Jare Oguntibeju and Sione Vailanu offer further options in the pack. Jack Oliver and Ollie Smith round out the 23.
Double Connacht fitness boost
Dylan Tierney-Martin and Darragh Murray have both been included in the Connacht starting XV for the trip to Scotstoun Stadium by head coach Stuart Lancaster. Tierney-Martin has been named at hooker and is flanked by loosehead Billy Bohan and tighthead Sam Illo while Murray partners Josh Murphy in the engine room.
Cian Prendergast will captain the Irish province from the number six jersey with Shamus Hurley-Langton and Paul Boyle rounding out the forward pack.
Into the backs and Ben Murphy partners Josh Ioane in the half-backs whilst John Devine comes in for the injured Harry West at outside centre with Bundee Aki on his inside. The back three remains unchanged in wingers Shayne Bolton and Shane Jennings, and full-back Sam Gilbert.
Lancaster has gone for the conventional 5-3 split on the bench, which features the fit-again Dave Heffernan who provides front-row cover with Peter Dooley and Finlay Bealham. Joe Joyce and Sean O’Brien are the other two forward replacements while Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin and Seán Naughton provide backline cover with Jack Carty being unavailable due to personal reasons.
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht teams
Prediction: Glasgow by 10
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Jack Oliver, 23 Ollie Smith
Connacht Rugby: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 John Devine, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (c), 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Hugh Gavin, 23 Seán Naughton
Date: Friday, May 29
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 51st league game)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (WRU) and Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv