Gregor Townsend preaches rectifying mistakes ahead of Glasgow-Scarlets

by Lewis Hughes Friday 11 December 2015

Gregor Townsend

©Press Association

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend wants his men to learn lessons from their last meeting with Scarlets ahead of Saturday's European Champions Cup clash.

The Scotstoun side crashed to a 16-10 defeat to the Welsh province on the opening day of this season's Guinness Pro12 competition

Warrirors were without a number of international stars for that match, played just two weeks before this year's Rugby World Cup kicked-off

But Townsend has urged his squad not to repeat the same mistakes which cost them back in September.

The head coach - who penned a two-year contract extension earlier this week - said: "The Scarlets are doing very well in the Pro12 and will provide tough opposition this weekend.

"They have already beaten us at Scotstoun this season and it's important that we learn from that game, as we look for our first victory in Europe this season."

Ahead of facing the Llanelli outfit, Townsend has named an unchanged starting XV to the one that was picked for last week's ultimately postponed fixture against Leinster.

The only change to the matchday 23 is on the replacements bench, with scrum-half Grayson Hart coming in for Ali Price.

Hooker James Malcolm will make his first start for the club, after featuring twice off the bench last month against Cardiff Blues and Benetton Treviso.

Fijian second-row and incumbent Pacific Islander Player of the Year Leone Nakarawa will make his 50th appearance for the Warriors while Stuart Hogg, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Tommy Seymour make up the back three.

Alex Dunbar starts at outside centre, while Peter Horne slots in at 12.

Duncan Weir starts at fly-half, with Finn Russell on the bench and Mike Blair at scrum-half.

In the pack Ryan Grant is at loose-head, with Malcolm at hooker and Tongan prop Sila Puafisi at tight-head.

Nakarawa partners captain Jonny Gray in the engine room.

In the back-row Josh Strauss is at blind-side, Simone Favaro starts at open-side and following his match-winning try against Benetton Treviso, Adam Ashe continues at Number 8.