Preview
Monday, Kick-off 8.15pm, Scotstoun
GLASGOW WARRIORS welcome back eight players released by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend for the visit of Leinster.
In a rematch of the 2019 PRO14 final, Glasgow have George Turner, George Horne and Ratu Tagive all available for selection after travelling to Llanelli as injury cover for Scotland's matchday 23.
The trio will rejoin the group that had Huw Jones, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Rob Harley and Richie Gray released earlier last week by Townsend.
Teams will be announced today.
Glasgow are tasked with snapping Leinster's 22- match unbeaten streak in the PRO14 after a slow start in Conference A, needing to rebound from last weekend's defeat by Ospreys to kick-start their season.
Having blooded several youngsters such as Hamish Bain and Jamie Dobie in recent weeks, Glasgow coach Danny Wilson tempered expectations ahead of Monday's clash with the reigning champions.
“You've got to remember that for ten of our players that was their first game of rugby in seven months”, Wilson said.
“Our group of players who had two games against Edinburgh, a game against Connacht and a game against the Scarlets to get up to pace have now disappeared off to play international rugby, and now we have a new crop of players coming through with different combinations.”
Leinster thrashed Glasgow 55-19 in February during the early rounds of the Six Nations with Cian Kelleher starring with a brace of tries.
Hooker Dan Sheehan and wing Dave Kearney are in contention to feature for Leinster after working their way back to match fitness. But director of rugby Leo Cullen said Ireland flanker Dan Leavy will continue to be managed after returning from an 18- month knee injury lay-off last week.
“It was a nasty injury and people need to be patient and have realistic expectations”, Cullen said. “It was March of 2019 when he got the injury… he needs to find his rhythm.
“We've had to wait a long while to get to this point but huge credit to him.”
