Match Preview | Ospreys

• 6 Jan 2022

Glasgow Warriors make their return to action after a three-week break this weekend, as the Ospreys first-foot Scotstoun in the United Rugby Championship.

Danny Wilson’s
squad will be raring to go as they look to back up last month’s dominant 22-7
victory over Exeter in the Heineken Champions Cup, having been denied the
festive double-header with Edinburgh due to COVID-19.

With the
Ospreys sitting just one place above the Warriors in the URC standings,
however, there’s a lot to play for when the two sides go head-to-head under the
Scotstoun floodlights on Saturday evening.

Please note
that, as per Scottish Government guidelines, the game will be played for all
intents and purposes spectator-free.

Here’s how
our opponents shape up ahead of the match:

UPDATE | Please see below for an update surrounding this weekend’s match against the Ospreys, as well as our postponed 1872 Cup matches in the #URC.

For more, please check your inbox ? pic.twitter.com/AQ1JIfiT3n
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) January 6, 2022

Previous
Encounter

It was the
Warriors who emerged victorious the last time the two sides met, coming from
behind to secure a 30-25 win over the men from Swansea last March.

A double
from Morgan Morris saw the visitors lead at the interval, as the Ospreys went
into the Scotstoun changing rooms with a 15-9 advantage.

However,
second half scores from Lee Jones, Rufus McLean and Aki Seiuli ensured that it
would be Wilson’s men who came away with the points, despite a late rally from
the visitors.

Ones to
watch

Capped in
the narrow third Test defeat to South Africa this summer, a British and Irish
Lions call-up ensured that Adam Beard could no longer go under the radar.
Having become a key part of the setup for both club and country, the Welsh
international brings powerful carrying and a tireless work rate to the engine
room.

Openside flanker
Jac Morgan could be joining Beard in the international arena before too long,
after turning heads across the URC with his performances to date this season. The
21-year-old has settled into life in Swansea with aplomb, having made the
switch from regional rivals Scarlets in the summer of 2021.

Wales’ all-time
leading try-scorer in 7s, Luke Morgan showed exactly why he has become such a
valued part of the Ospreys squad in their victory over the Scarlets last
weekend. His rapid acceleration earned him a highlight-worthy try, whilst his
willingness to get involved around the field highlighted just why he’s so
valued by Toby Booth’s side.

Memorable
Moment

A November
trip to the Liberty Stadium back in 2017 will hold a unique significance for
one former Warrior; after all, it wasn’t every weekend that saw Ruaridh Jackson
represent both his country and his club in the space of 24 hours.

Called onto
the bench for Scotland’s 51-24 win over Australia after an injury to Stuart
Hogg in the warm-up, the full-back then raced down to Swansea to pull on the 15
jersey for the Warriors the following afternoon.

It was a
worthwhile journey for Jackson; tries from Adam Hastings, Scott Cummings,
George Turner, Brandon Thomson, Leonardo Sarto, coupled with a brace from
George Horne, saw the Warriors run away with a 47-6 victory.

Match
Officials

Irish
referee Chris Busby will be the man in the middle on Saturday evening, as he
takes charge of his 16^th match in the competition.

Busby will
be assisted by Ben Blain and Graeme Ormiston, with Sam Grove-White on duty as
and when required as the Television Match Official.

Broadcast
Information

Supporters
can watch the match live on Premier Sports 1 this weekend, with kick-off
scheduled for 5.15pm. Those outside the UK can watch the match on URC TV – more
details are available at unitedrugby.com.

You can also
follow all the action as it happens with our Live Match Centre – head to
glasgowwarriors.org from an hour before kick-of for all the build-up and
updates from Scotstoun.