Six Nations quintet return to lift Glasgow for Munster clash

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend is looking forward to another taste of the Rugby Park experience

Sean Lamont, Gordon Reid, Tim Swinson and Duncan Weir are all in the team, while young tighthead Zander Fagerson is named on the bench. In addition, Scotland centre Peter Horne, who came off the bench in Ulster last week after recovering from a foot injury, is named in the No 12 jersey.

Taqele Naiyaravoro comes back in at right wing after it was confirmed that he will indeed be returning to Australia after just one year of his three-year contract at the end of the season.

The Fiji-born 24-year-old’s time at Glasgow always looked like it would be a truncated one from the moment he was capped by Australia last summer, with the Wallabies’ policy of only selecting foreign-based players with a minimum of 60 caps already to their name.

Naiyaravoro had a clause in his contract which allowed him to return to Australia if he failed to settle after one year and that has been activated, paving the way for a return to New South Wales Waratahs.

Meanwhile, promising young hooker James Malcolm makes his first Pro12 start tonight, while BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 hooker Cammy Fenton could make his first appearance for the Warriors from the bench.

Speaking ahead of the game, which has been moved to Rugby Park due to the Scotstoun pitch still being unplayable, Warriors coach Gregor Townsend said: “It’s our first home game for a few weeks, against one of our contenders for a play-off spot so it’s an important match for us.

Munster are one of the top teams in the league, so we’re well aware of the challenge we face at Rugby Park.

“It’s great to include Cammy Fenton in a matchday squad for the first time, while we’ve been boosted by the return of some of our Scotland players.

“The whole occasion at Rugby Park last time was great and we’re looking forward to playing there again tomorrow night.”

Glasgow and Munster met in the final last May, which resulted in a historic victory for the Warriors, but they lie eighth and sixth respectively at present.

Munster coach Anthony Foley makes five changes from the side that lost to Ospreys last week. Ireland Six Nations squad men Donnacha Ryan, Tommy O’Donnell and James Cronin have been made available to the province for the game. O’Donnell and Ryan make up two of three changes to the pack, while Cronin is among the replacements.

Tomas O’Leary resumes his half-back partnership with Ian Keatley, and David Johnston and Rory Scannell form a youthful midfield pairing.

Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway make up the back three.