mens
United-rugby-championship
Versatile Scotland fullback Jamie Dobie will return to his old scrum-half role as Glasgow aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the URC season on Friday against Connacht in Scotstoun.
Dobie scored three tries in the Warriors’ first two games of the season from left wing, where he has been deployed mostly for club and country since last December – apart from the URC semi-final defeat to Bulls April when George Horne was injured.
But the 25-year-old, who started Scotland Nations Championship games against Argentina and South Africa July in jersey number 11, he returns to his previous rhythm against the Galway team.
Horne, whose angry reaction in last week’s 33-33 draw Ulster he saw a penalty disallowed and cost Glasgow a try at a crucial moment, moves to the bench.
Dobie’s replacement means he hands 21-year-old Fergus Watson his third senior start on the wing, with Ollie Smith coming in at outside center after Stafford McDowall was sent off against Ulster after a head knock.
Warriors head coach Franco Smith has also shaken up his pack, with four more personnel changes, plus one position, to the side Ulster surprisingly kept at home after their first win in Munster.
British and Irish Lions lock Scott Cummings comes into the second row for his first start of the season after two substitute appearances, with Gregor Brown coming on as a substitute.
Rory Darge returns to openside and Macenzzie Duncan starts at number eight, with Matt Fagerson returning to blindside flanker and Ally Miller on the bench.
There is another change in the front row with Scotland prop Nathan McBeth taking over from Patrick Schickerling on the loose.
Re-fixed Jare Oguntibeju will get his first outing of the season off the bench.
Glasgow XV: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (cap), 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Jamie Dobie; 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 3 Finn Richardson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Macenzzie Duncan.
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Ally Miller, 22 George Horne, 23 Bayley Kuenzle.