World Rugby Player of the Year and All Black legend Dan Carter won’t be sampling Killie pies at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock as Racing opted not to pick their big-money recruit for the final European Champions Cup match against Glasgow
With the Warriors having moved for only the second rugby game at the new all-weather Rugby Park because of continuing problems with the surface at Scotstoun, both sides have made key alterations in what is a dead rubber, Racing having already qualified with four wins and a draw from five and the Warriors unable to make the last eight after last week’s dispiriting loss at Northampton.
That means Racing leave Carter in Paris, while welcoming back French international Maxime Machenaud to skipper the side and kick goals from scrum-half. Remi Tales, another French international, is at stand-off.
Glasgow, meanwhile, don’t pick Ryan Wilson after the Scotland flanker was involved in disciplinary hearings all week before being cleared of testicle-grabbing in the Northampton games, and Tim Swinson’s one match suspension for his injudicious punch late in the game means a thorough reshuffle of the Warriors pack.
The Warriors are already missing Josh Strauss (concussion) Adam Ashe (shoulder) and Rob Harley (thumb) so Leone Nakarawa will start at No 8 with veteran James Eddie, registered for the squad only this week, coming in at 6.
Greg Peterson slots into the second row and 19-year-old Scott Cummings, who was a revelation when the senior players were at the World Cup, on the bench.
Cummings has been intentionally kept out of the team reckoning in the last two months while he underwent a conditioning programme that was delayed because he was so impressive in early season outings.
The gym work is intended to make the young second row significantly stronger and more durable as his career progresses.
Tommy Seymour returns on the wing after a short injury absence with Peter Horne not far away from a return after his foot injury. Taqele Naiyaravoro is also restored with Sam Johnson winning his second start after making his European debut against Northampton.
More than 8,500 tickets have been sold for the match, and the 3G surface at Rugby Park is one that should suit Glasgow’s style.
“We’re determined to deliver a winning performance for our supporters travelling for this fixture,” said head coach Gregor Townsend.
“This is a quality playing surface and with a large crowd it should be a fantastic occasion.”
Duncan Weir will make his 100th appearance for Glasgow off the bench should he get on at some point tonight.
Glasgow (vs Racing 92, European Rugby Champions Cup, Rugby Park, ko 5.30 pm): Stuart Hogg; Taqele Naiyaravoro, Alex Dunbar, Sam Johnson, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Alex Allan, Shalva Mamukashvili, Sila Puafisi; Greg Peterson, Jonny Gray (capt); James Eddie, Simone Favaro, Leone Nakarawa.
Replacements: James Malcolm, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Chris Fusaro, Grayson Hart, Duncan Weir, Lee Jones.
Racing 92: Brice Dulin; Louis Dupichot, Henry Cavancy, Alexandre Dumoulin, Marc Andreu; Remi Tales, Maxime Machenaud (capt); Julien Brugnaut, Camille Chat, Luc Ducalcon; Luke Charteris, Francois van der Merwe; Wencelas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Chris Masoe.
Replacements: Virgile Lacombe, Davit Khinchagishvili, Cedate Gomes Sa, Thibaulot Dubavrry, Juandre Kruger, Xavier Chaveau, Etienne Dussartre, Benjamin Dambielle.