GLASGOW'S defence coach, Bill Mercer, is looking for a powerful display against Guinness Premiership side Bristol tonight to prove that the Warriors have the muscle and skills to cope with some of the biggest attacks they will face this season.
Bristol head north for their final pre-season game of the season desperately looking for a win. Last weekend the English club lost 15-6 away to Exeter, a team from the division below them, and though they defeated Welsh club side Pontypool 43-3 on a
rain-soaked Tuesday night, coach Richard Hill is demanding a good performance against Glasgow to lift spirits ahead of their opening Guinness Premiership match at home to local rivals Bath.
After a successful tour to the south of France at the XV Challenge Vaquerin, which they won following victories over Castres and Beziers, assistant coach Mercer is keen to see Glasgow step up their pre-season preparations in front of a Firhill crowd.
"France was very beneficial for us as a group," he said, "especially because we got a chance to play under the new laws.
"Defensively, the players' attitude was first-class over the two games. But Bristol are a very big side with a lot of experienced players. They are very direct, but I think we are ready and we have enough class in our backs to win." Glasgow start with young fly-half Ruaridh Jackson at full-back.
Glasgow (v Bristol at Firhill, 7.30pm): R Jackson; L Fa'atau, M Evans, A Henderson, T Evans; D Parks, M McMillan; E Kalman, D Hall, M Low, O Palepoi, D Turner, K Brown, R Vernon, J Barclay. Subs from: E Milligan, G Strain, A Kellock, R Gray, C Forrester, J Beattie, C Gregor, D Gibson, H O'Hare, C Kinloch.
The full article contains 302 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
