Lions star OUT of Glasgow Warriors clash with Achilles injury as Stormers bench Manie Libbok for URC quarter-final
Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones is out with an Achilles injury.
British & Irish Lions centre Huw Jones has been ruled out of Glasgow Warriors’ fixture against the Stormers due to an Achilles injury, it has been confirmed.
Jones was not named in the Warriors squad for the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final at Scotstoun on Friday night in a huge blow to the Scottish side’s hopes.
The news will also worry Lions fans and the coaching staff as Achilles problems are always a concern, with the game against Argentina in Dublin less than a month away.
No Huw Jones
Stafford McDowall comes into the starting team in Jones‘ shirt and links up with Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, with George Horne and Tom Jordan the half-back combination.
Kyle Steyn leads the side from wing, as Kyle Rowe – fresh from renewing his contract with the URC club earlier this week – joins Josh McKay to complete the back-three.
Jamie Bhatti is the only member of the front-row that started at Leinster a fortnight ago to retain his place. He is joined by prop Murphy Walker and hooker Gregor Hiddleston.
Alex Samuel continues in the second-row for Glasgow Warriors, with Scott Cummings promoted to a starting position after coming off the bench against Leinster last time out.
Henco Venter’s return from suspension sees the South African pack down at number eight, joining Euan Ferrie and Rory Darge as the loose-forward trio for Friday’s game.
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United Rugby Championship: Quarter-final match officials, kick-off times and TV coverage
For the Stormers, Warrick Gelant will link up with Seabelo Senatla and Ben Loader in the back three, with Suleiman Hartzenberg alongside Dan du Plessis in the midfield.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Stefan Ungerer will continue as the half-back pairing with the experienced Herschel Jantjies and Manie Libbok on bench duty for the match.
Evan Roos resumes his place at the back of the scrum, with Marcel Theunissen and Paul de Villiers named on the flanks and Louw Nel among the replacement options.
Captain Salmaan Moerat starts alongside Ruben van Heerden at second-row, with JD Schickerling and Connor Evans among the six forwards set to feature after half-time.
Andre-Hugo Venter starts at hooker, with Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche either side of him, with Vernon Matongo, Joseph Dweba and Sazi Sandi among the replacements.
The teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Samuel, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Adam Hastings
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Manie Libbok
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
