Glasgow Preview
By Mark H
October 21 2004
Saints hit Hughenden on Sunday lunchtime looking for a win/a try/an attacking idea (delete where applicable) to kick start the Heineken Cup campaign for 2004/05.
It’s the fourth trip to Scotland in the Heineken, and with two wins (over Edinburgh and Borders) and two defeats (Edinburgh and Glasgow), we’re all hoping that the positive column increases. The previous trip to face Glasgow came on a cold January night in 2002, with the match moved to partick Thistle’s Firhill ground as Hughenden didn’t have undersoil heating. It unfortunately set Scottish feet on fire, as the home side inflicted a sixth successive away European defeat on Saints, winning 31-27. And Saints have lost five on the trot now. Surely not six again… Glasgow have won 11 of their home Heineken games, drawn 1, and lost six. For a home side in Europe, that’s a pretty disappointing record, but in comparison to their away record, very good. In 19 matches out of Scotland, Glasgow have won just one (the first, ironically in Ulster where no-one ever seems to win), and lost the rest. To get anywhere near getting out of this group, that record has to improve - quickly. With the Gardens resembling Emergency Ward 10 last weekend, it’s been a point of interest all week as to which 22 players would be fit. The team named on Thursday afternoon was a bit of a surprise, simply because there are names in it that we thought wouldn’t make it. The team:- 15 Bruce Reihana Johan van Wyk and Ed O’Donoghue make the bench for the first time as injuries mean absences for Thompson, Boome, Tucker and Morris from last week’s 22. Glasgow coach Hugh Campbell will name his side on Friday morning. So am I still as pessimistic as in previous weeks? Well, Glasgow will be looking on Saints as probably their best bet of picking up a victory in the pool. Saints on the other hand are in a must win situation to stand any realistic chance of getting out, and to have a boost before the crucial game next weekend at home to the Scarlets. A friend said to me this week, “if we can get the first try then who knows?” I have a bad feeling about this - but I still think Saints might sneak it.
14 John Rudd
13 Marc Stcherbina
12 Chris Hyndman
11 Ben Cohen
10 Shane Drahm
9 Mark Robinson
1 Tom Smith
2 Dan Richmond
3 Robbie Kempson
4 Matt Lord
5 Damien Browne
6 Darren Fox
7 Corne Krige (captain)
8 Andrew Blowers
16 Johan van Wyk
17 Chris Budgen
18 Ed O’Donoghue
19 Grant Seely
20 Johnny Howard
21 Andy Vilk
22 Wylie Human