Just as one fly-half controversy appears to be ending, Gregor Townsend could be making another for himself by giving Finn Russell the controls for Glasgow’s crunch clash with Ulster at Scotstoun.
The 21-year-old former Ayr player will make just his sixth start, his second at fly-half, and is picked ahead of Scotland 10 Duncan Weir, who is out of the match day squad altogether for the visit of the team currently holding the second home play-off spot above the Warriors in the Rabodirect PRO12.
It’s reward for Russell’s consistent performances mostly at inside centre, but 10 is his preferred slot and it’s certainly a key move by the head coach for a game that will have a crucial bearing on the remainder of Glasgow’s season.
Win, and the Warriors have three games left at home to Edinburgh and bottom club Zebre, and away to second bottom Treviso looking clear favourites to secure home advantage in a play-off semi-final, with Ulster finishing with tough games against Munster and Leinster.
Lose, and the spectre of Ospreys in fifth finishing strongly means that the Warriors might just be happy to hang on for a third play-off appearance in successive years.
It’s a big call to put Russell in ahead of Weir, who seemed to have secured both the Scotland and Glasgow 10 shirts this season with Ruaridh Jackson apparently set to move on at the season’s end, only to now find that Russell is a live candidate for the playmaking role.
Townsend has also given a first start to Peter Horne after a year-long battle with a knee injury and he lines up alongside Mark Bennett in the centre with Alex Dunbar ruled out with a wrist injury.
There’s none of the coach’s preferred rotation in the pack, retaining the unit en masse after last week’s outstanding win against Munster at Limerick.
The returning Ryan Grant and Rob Harley only get a place on the bench, and Niko Matawalu is also among the replacements with Chris Cusiter continuing as skipper.
“Last week was a precious win for the club but we have another huge game in prospect,” said Townsend.
“Ulster are coming high on confidence and ahead of us in the league.
“What impressed me most last weekend was our players’ work rate and how we kept taking the game to Munster. We’ll need to repeat that effort again tomorrow.”
Ulster were decimated with injuries in their epic Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens a fortnight ago and influential full-back Jarrod Payne misses the last of a three-game ban for his controversial red card in that match.
More damaging for the team were season-ending injuries to key men Ruan Pienaar, Rory Best, Dan Tuohy and All Black John Afoa, and the setback to the comeback from long-term of talisman back-rower Stephen Ferris.
Better news for the many Ulster exiles heading to Scotstoun tonight is that No 8 Nick Williams, Ireland prop Tom Court and centre Darren Cave all return to the side.