Josh McKay and Gregor Hiddleston return as Glasgow Warriors make 10 changes for Zebre trip

Josh McKay will return from two months out with an ankle injury when Glasagow Warriors visit Zebre Parma in the URC tomorrow [Saturday] night. Image: © Craig Watson – www.craigwatson.co.uk

GLASGOW WARRIORS have been boosted by the return from injury of full-back Josh McKay and hooker Gregor Hiddleston ahead of tomorrow [Saturday] night’s clash against URC strugglers Zebre in Parma, as Franco Smith’s side look to bounce back from last week’s Champions Cup quarter-final demolition at the hands of Leinster.

McKay (who has been missing since mid-February with an ankle injury) will take over the No 15 jersey from Kyle Rowe, who drops out the match-day squad altogether, while the selection of Hiddleston (out since mid-January also with an ankle injury) sees Johnny Matthews drop of the bench in place of Grant Stewart, who is unavailable due to illness.

There are 10 changes in total to the starting line-up for the Dublin debacle, including an all-new front-row featuring Jamie Bhatti and Fin Richardson as the starting props, Jare Oguntibeju replacing the concussed JP Du Preez in the second-row, and Euan Ferrie and Jack Mann coming into the back-row in place of the benched Rory Darge and the injured Matt Fagerson (ankle).

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Behind the scrum, Jamie Dobie switches from wing to scrum-half, Stafford McDowall shifts from outside to inside centre, Ollie Smith takes over the No 13 jersey, and Sebastian Cancelliere takes over from Dobie on the wing.

Unusually for Warriors under head coach Franco Smith, there is  a five-three split on the bench, with Tom Jordan joining Sean Kennedy (covering scrum-half in place of Ben Afshar who has a foot injury) and Facundo Cordero as the backs replacements.

This match pitches second top of the table against second bottom, but Smith insisted that his team cannot simply view it as an opportunity to regroup following last weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-final disappointment.

“Zebre are a team that can hurt any team when presented with an opportunity, and we have seen the significant progress they have made across this season both in Parma and on the road,” said Smuth

“We are pleased to welcome Josh and Gregor back into our matchday squad, with both men having worked diligently with our medical and S&C teams to put themselves in the best shape possible.

“We know that there is little margin for error in a league as tightly contested as the URC, and we know we must be at our best tomorrow night.”

Glasgow Warriors (versus Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma on Saturday @ 7.35pm – live on Premier Sports): J McKay; S Cancelliere, O Smith,, S McDowall, K Steyn ©; A Hastings, J Dobie; J Bhatti, G Hiddleston, F Richardson, J Ogunitibeju, A Samuel, E Ferrie, S Vailanu, J Mann. Subs: J Matthews, P Shickerling, S Talakai, M Williamson, R Darge, S Kennedy, T Jordan, S Cancelliere.

Unavailable for selection: Ben Afshar (foot), Scott Cummings (arm), Jack Dempsey (hamstring), JP du Preez (head), Matt Fagerson (ankle), Zander Fagerson (calf), Angus Fraser (ankle), Huw Jones (ankle), Ally Miller (back), Grant Stewart (illness), Rory Sutherland (shoulder), Sione Tuipulotu (pectoral), Henco Venter (suspension), Duncan Weir (shoulder).

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