Glasgow Warriors have received a big injury boost ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Munster on Friday night, as scrum-half George Horne is in contention to return from a hamstring injury.
Horne’s impact
Horne, who has scored 30 tries in 67 appearances for the Warriors, missed the last two games against Benetton and Ulster after tweaking his hamstring in the win over the Scarlets on November 12. He was initially ruled out for four to six weeks, but has made a quicker than expected recovery and could feature in the crucial knockout game at Scotstoun Stadium.
Horne’s availability would be a huge boost for Glasgow, who are looking to reach their first URC semi-final since 2019. The 26-year-old is one of the most dynamic and creative scrum-halves in the competition, and his partnership with fly-half Tom Jordan has been instrumental in Glasgow’s attacking play this season.
Horne’s return would also ease the pressure on Jamie Dobie, who has started the last two games in Horne’s absence. Dobie, 20, is a highly rated prospect, but has had to shoulder a lot of responsibility in the absence of Horne and Ali Price, who is on international duty with Scotland. Horne’s experience and leadership would be invaluable in a high-stakes game against Munster, who have won their last five games against Glasgow.
Munster’s challenge
Munster, the defending URC champions, will pose a formidable challenge for Glasgow, who have not beaten them since 2018. Munster have a formidable pack, led by captain Peter O’Mahony, and a clinical backline, featuring the likes of Joey Carbery, Damian de Allende and Keith Earls.
Munster have also been boosted by the return of some of their Ireland internationals, who missed the last two games due to the Autumn Nations Series. CJ Stander, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Conway are all back in contention for the quarter-final, adding to Munster’s depth and quality.
Munster have also been impressive on the road this season, winning four of their five away games, including a 34-22 victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. They will be confident of extending their winning run against Glasgow, who have lost their last two games at home to Benetton and Ulster.
Glasgow’s hope
However, Glasgow will not be daunted by Munster’s reputation, and will hope to replicate their performance from the last time they faced them in a knockout game. In 2019, Glasgow beat Munster 50-20 in the PRO14 semi-final at Scotstoun, scoring seven tries in a dominant display.
Glasgow will also take inspiration from their recent form in the URC, where they have won six of their nine games, scoring 35 tries and earning four bonus points. They have shown a lot of flair and ambition in their attack, and have also improved their defence and discipline under head coach Danny Wilson.
Glasgow will also have the advantage of playing in front of their passionate home crowd, who will create a raucous atmosphere at Scotstoun. Glasgow have sold out their 7,351-capacity stadium for the quarter-final, and will hope to reward their loyal fans with a memorable victory over Munster.
