AS feared, Glasgow Warriors are facing a hooker crisis that could affect not just their European Champions Cup match this weekend against Montpelier, but which might also roll on to the two 1872 Cup games against Pro14 rivals Edinburgh.
They were already short of players before George Turner got himself into trouble with a stupid off-the-ball charge into Louis Picamoles in the home leg against Montpellier.
He seemed lucky to get away with a yellow card in the game and yesterday that was confirmed when an independent European disciplinary panel banned him for four weeks.
They ruled it was a mid-range offence in terms of how serious it was, meaning an automatic sanction of six weeks, reduced by two for his admission of guilt and because this was his first offence.
The problem for Glasgow is that both Fraser Brown and Pat MacArthur are unsure when they will return to action – the club hope at least one will be available this weekend but have had to make contingency plans in case neither is ready before the New Year by adding Grant Stewart from Glasgow Hawks, to their registered squad.
The other players are just going to have to cope the best they can as they go hunting revenge in France this weekend.
“We have a point to prove,” pointed out Matt Smith, the 21-year-old flanker.
“We have not done well in Europe so we need to go out and give it a bash.”
“It was an incredible experience playing against Montpellier, there were a few of my heroes in their team [including Aaron Cruden, the fly half, and Louis Picamoles, the No8] so it was good to play against them. They are big in my books.
“Picamoles is just a big physical guy, it you go high on him he will just throw you off, as I found out. You need to go low and get him down as quickly as possible. It was a good learning experience for me.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here