Horne dropped to bench as Glasgow make six changes to face Connacht

George Horne has been dropped to the replacements after his petulant reaction cost Glasgow a try in last week’s 33-33 draw with Ulster, as head coach Franco Smith names six changes for Friday’s URC fixture against Connacht at Scotstoun.

Horne’s indiscipline saw a penalty reversed at a critical moment in the match, and the scrum-half’s place in the starting XV is taken by Jamie Dobie, who reverts to his original position after scoring three tries from the left wing in Glasgow’s opening two games of the season. The 25-year-old Scotland international, who started the Nations Championship fixtures against Argentina and South Africa in the No.11 shirt last July, returns to the nine jersey against the Galway side.

Dobie’s positional switch opens the door for 21-year-old Fergus Watson, who earns his third senior start on the wing. Ollie Smith comes in at outside centre after Stafford McDowall was forced off against Ulster following a head injury.

Smith has also overhauled his pack with four personnel changes and one positional switch. British and Irish Lions lock Scott Cummings makes his first start of the season after two appearances off the bench, with Gregor Brown rotating to the replacements. Rory Darge returns at openside flanker, Macenzzie Duncan starts at number eight, and Matt Fagerson shifts to blindside, with Ally Miller taking a bench role. In the front row, Scotland prop Nathan McBeth replaces Patrick Schickerling at loosehead.

Fit-again lock Jare Oguntibeju is set for his first outing of the season from the replacements.

The changes come after Glasgow were held at home by Ulster, having opened the campaign with a win at Munster. Smith will be eager to restore the winning momentum that had given the Warriors an unbeaten start to the URC season.

Glasgow XV: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Jamie Dobie; 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 3 Fin Richardson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Max Williamson, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Macenzzie Duncan.

Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Ally Miller, 22 George Horne, 23 Bayley Kuenzle.