Townsend Eyeing Improved Performance

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend hopes his side have learned their lessons from their opening Guinness Pro12 defeat as they prepare to face Connacht on Friday.

The champions began their title defence with a disappointing 16-10 defeat to Scarlets last weekend.

But Townsend wants his team to show they have learned from their mistakes when they take on Galway outfit at Scotstoun.

He said: "We were disappointed to lose our opening game against the Scarlets, but the effort in the second-half last week was really encouraging and much more of what we expect from our players.

"For those selected to play Connacht, it's an opportunity to put what we've learned last week and what we've been working on in training this week into a much-improved performance.

"Connacht are a very good side who have a strong set-piece and come into this game off the back of a win against the Dragons last weekend. Our two opening fixtures were always going to be tough and we know we'll have to perform very well to win tomorrow night."

Townsend has made seven changes to the side defeated by Scarlets - including handing a competitive debut to winger Junior Bulumakau.

The 24-year-old joined the club last month and scored against both Clermont and Canada during pre-season.

He comes into the team for the injured Rory Hughes, and will play on the right wing with Lee Jones moving to the opposite side.

Rory Clegg and Mike Blair make their first starts for the club at stand-off and scrum-half respectively.

After coming on as a second-half replacement last Saturday, Alex Allan starts the game at loose-head while Pat MacArthur returns from illness at hooker.

Lock Kieran Low is another making his bow in the starting XV after featuring off the bench in the defeat to Scarlets.

Rob Harley, meanwhile, moves to blindside flanker in place of Josh Strauss.