It’s edging closer to the United Rugby Championship semi-final between Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls at Murrayfield and excitement is building.
Franco Smith will announce his team on Friday afternoon ahead of speaking to the press with kick-off at 2:30pm on Saturday.
Glasgow battled past Connacht in a hard-fought encounter at Scotstoun to reach the last four, while the Bulls eased past Munster.
A rivalry has developed between the sides in recent years after Glasgow shocked the South Africans on home soil to win the URC in 2024.
The majority selection decision for Smith revolves around Geroge Horne and whether the Scotland international will be fit enough to play after sustaining a hand injury against Connacht.
It’s usually an impossible task to second-guess Smith’s team selections but our three writers have named their predicted teams.
Gavin Harper
George Horne is, of course, the big fitness concern after picking up a hand injury in the quarter-final. Glasgow will be desperate for their scrum-half to be fit as he's got such an influence over their style of play.
If he's not, the silver lining is that Jamie Dobie is ready to return. He would come straight in if Horne doesn't make it, but after an encouraging update from Nigel Carolan, I've gone with Horne in my side and Dobie on the bench. There's no need to make other changes despite the return to training of Huw Jones.
Predicted Glasgow Warriors XV: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Dan Lancaster, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Jamie Dobie, Ollie Smith
Euan Robertson
The major selection decision revolves around George Horne. After missing training on Monday, it’s understood that the influential scrum-half took part of a section of the session on Tuesday.
Horne is so important to this Glasgow side and Franco Smith will give him every opportunity to prove his fitness. Moreover, it could be the Warriors last game of the season so the inclination will be to strap him up and risk him. Jamie Dobie is fit but you wouldn’t feasibly want him to start after so long out in such a big game.
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As Dobie can cover nine and the wing, I’d be tempted to put Huw Jones on the bench as an X-factor option. The British & Irish Lion has barely played for Glasgow this season but he’s a world-class player and he could provide that special moment. It’s really harsh on Ollie Smith as he’s been excellent this season and I don’t think Franco will roll the dice, but why not?
Predicted Glasgow Warriors XV: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Rowe, Dan Lancaster, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Jamie Dobie, Huw Jones
Rob Robertson
Provided there are no late injuries, the only change I would make would be to bring Jamie Dobie straight back into the side on the wing. Kyle Rowe was quiet by his high standards in the quarter-final win over Connacht and Dobie would bring an extra spark to the attack against the Bulls.
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Rowe would drop to the bench in place of Jack Oliver who would drop out of the squad completely. That is not a reflection on the talent of Oliver, it's just that you don't need a specialist scrum-half on the bench as Dobie can move there if George Horne has to come off.
Huw Jones may be back training and may well be fit enough to play but the centre partnership of Stafford McDowall and Sione Tuipulotu does not deserve to be broken up.
Predicted Glasgow Warriors XV: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Jamie Dobie, Dan Lancaster, George Horne, Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Jare Oguntibeju, Euan Ferrie, Sione Vailanu, Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith
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