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Rookie set for first Glasgow cap in 18 months amid raft of changes
Murphy Walker is set to complete a memorable week with his first Glasgow appearance in 18 months.
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The 24-year-old prop has endured a hugely disrupted start to his professional career because of hamstring, neck, calf and knee injuries.
But the Scotland international will start against the Bulls in South Africa on Saturday, days after signing a new two-year deal.
Franco Smith has made 11 changes as the BKT United Rugby Championship leaders attempt to win in South Africa for the first time in six years.
Another Scotland prop, Jamie Bhatti, returns from injury for his first game since February in an all-new pack and Rory Darge is also fit again.
Gregor Hiddleston drops out with a calf injury while only Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn, Stafford McDowall and Sione Tuipulotu retain their place in the team.
URC top try-scorer Johnny Matthews is fit enough for a place on the bench following three weeks out.
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Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “The Bulls provide one of the sternest tests in the URC; they have one of the strongest home records in the competition at Loftus Versfeld, as well as a blend of physical forwards and dynamic backs.”
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Sebastian Cancelliere, Tom Jordan, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Grant Stewart, Murphy Walker, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter, Jamie Dobie, Duncan Weir
Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 99th league game)
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AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Vodacom Bulls: Willie Le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Chris Smith, Embrose Papier, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (C.CAPT), Marcon van Staden, Elrigh Louw (C.CAPT), Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt, Devon Williams
Comments on RugbyPass
Munster are going to be a tough nut to crack. So far it seems that they soak up the pressure and by patience win in the end.
4 Go to commentsTwo super players Ford and Russell showed some wonderful skills.
1 Go to commentsA cracker of a game. JC Pretorius’s and little van den berg have huge work rates.
2 Go to commentsDannie Gerber - that name brings back memories. He was the maestro of the mid field.
4 Go to commentsDupont may not even be the GOAT in France and has a ways to go to surpass the great #Blanco
35 Go to commentsI’m sure Worcester fans will be as surprised as me to read that Fin Smith came through the Northampton academy.
1 Go to commentsBlitzboks have forgotten how to tackle.
1 Go to commentsWhat sort of ridiculous format this year where the title was won recently and over a whole season only to have winner takes all here? Not just the Ferns (look hey nothing between them and Aus who deserved this win) but Argentina who have been the best team all year then France with that freak for a couple of tournaments wins the overall title? Madness Forget the Olympics - unrelated and of course that is a one off tournament
1 Go to commentsThat is one helluva comeback!!! Hats off to the sheer bloody minded determination that must have taken. Hope he goes fantastically well at the T20 wc.
1 Go to commentsRayasi is now 7 or 8 years into his pro career, albeit one that started when he was young. At 27, as an outside back in NZ, he is probably closer to heading overseas than he is to the ABs. To get on the selectors radar he needs to have a great NPC, then another great SR campaign in 2025. Ben Lam was never really able to do that, he was a feast or famine type player. Three great games, then goes missing for the next 3.
11 Go to commentsDupont sees opportunities where there wasn’t one until he makes it so. Utter class.
3 Go to commentsThese are the guys that do the cohesion predictions? That will be a very interesting review and they have likely already told the Crusaders of their expections for them given such a young and inexperienced squad without all their injured and departed players. I wonder if any of that will get leaked out, perhaps only if the cohesion metric predicted such a season? Actually even that would like badly upon the backoffice, I suspect it likely we will never know what Gain Line Analytics made of this season now! Unless the PUs put its publication to vote?
12 Go to commentsCurrently across the super franchises the forwards choices for Robertson is in the luxury of the competitions depth for selection . However same can’t be said regarding selection of the backs, especially the inside backs. I believe that’s where his dilemma will be. If he can’t get mouanga for the start then he should forget him and move on.
30 Go to commentsIf they had another round up their sleeve then no doubt the sadas wouldv been top8. I say leave things alone and get into the next season I rekon the turn around will carry on.
12 Go to commentsSimilar to Arran Smith in his style of application.
5 Go to commentsSave your money. Just learn from the bad stuff and play better next year. Lost loads of key players and had half the team out broken for most of the season.
12 Go to commentsJosh Ioane has been great for opposition teams all season. The sooner the Chiefs unload him to MP the better.
11 Go to commentsMunster have very good back row stocks nowadays, lots of guys with very high potential. Okeke is unlucky not to get a contract. If he came along 10 years ago, he almost certainly would have. Could be very good for Coventry.
1 Go to commentsGreat article! Love that you point out so much that is positive, and back it up with quotes and clips.
1 Go to commentsNo scapegoats. No knee-jerk reactions. Just excuses in an expensive report under file 13. I’ll give the saders some free consulting - no planning after Razor. Just let things fall flat to rebuild. Easy.
12 Go to comments