Glasgow Warriors boss Gregor Townsend admits he’s desperate for his side to enter into the November RaboDirect PRO12 break with a sixthconsecutive victory. After a tricky start to the season featuring back-to-back defeats Townsend’s men have since gone on an impressive five-game run that has lifted them to third in the table. Despite their record being on the line Townsend has not been afraid to shuffle the pack, most notably by handing a debut on the wing to Canadian international Taylor Paris. Paris is no stranger to being thrown in at the deep end having made his Canadian Test debut in 2010 aged just 18 while Argentina prop German Araoz could also taste the action for the first time off the bench. And Townsend knows only too well the value of heading into the break with their recent RaboDirect PRO12 form firmly intact. “As ever, there is a lot at stake in tomorrow’s match,” he said. “First and foremost, we know we have to win to maintain our momentum in the RaboDirect PRO12 and consolidate our position in the table ahead of the November break. “To do that, we’ll need everyone at the top of their game once more. It’s about being very accurate in contact and ensuring our set piece is spot on, so that we can control the pace of the game. “Dragons will pose questions all over the field, and we’ll have to work extremely hard and effectively to play the game on our own terms.” Troy Nathan will make his first start of the season in the midfield and with Paris on the wing, Niko Matawalu makes the switch to scrum-half. Last week’s man-of-the-match Scott Wight starts at No. 10. Gordon Reid comes into the front row while Tim Swinson is a fresh face at lock alongside Tom Ryder. Josh Strauss gets the nod at No. 8 having missed out last week while Chris Fusaro returns to the side at openside flanker. For the Dragons their last win in all competitions came against Scottish opposition with a 32-12 win at home to Edinburgh on September 28. Their last away victory in the RaboDirect also came north of the border, again against Edinburgh in March, but they have not won in Glasgow since January 2009. Skipper Lewis Evans returns from a groin strain and will lead the side while his namesake Dan is also back in the starting XV after a recent thumb injury. In the midfield boss Darren Edwards uses a new partnership in the shape of Ashley Smith and Pat Leach while back rower Nic Cudd also returns. The Dragons sit second bottom of the table heading to Scotland and prop Nathan Buck is under no illusions about the size of the task for a Gwent side denied the services of Wales international Toby Faletau. “They’ve got a very good set-piece that went well against Ulster in the Heineken Cup,” said Buck. “Glasgow is a hard place to go even though they have a fair few players away with Scotland.” At Scotstoun Stadium, 7.30pm. Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 13th competition game) Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, David Changleng (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU)
