Play-off hopeful: Sean Lineen is hoping his Glasgow side can keep their play-off hopes alive with a win at Connacht. Pic: ©STV
STV Rugby returns again this Sunday as the Magners League interjects for the second time during the Six Nations championship. Second placed Glasgow Warriors, who surrendered their top spot last time out after defeat to Cardiff Blues, travel to bottom club Connacht on Friday and on Sunday afternoon, Edinburgh host leaders Ospreys at Murrayfield.
All the highlights from this weekend’s action will be shown on STV from 5.15pm and live online on live.stv.tv. If you’re enjoying your Sunday lunch and can’t get away to sit down and watch the programme live, it will be available again shortly afterwards online via the STV Player.
All 10 clubs are in action for the last time for three weeks, with Scarlets at home to Ulster, Dragons hosting Ulster and Leinster travelling to face the Cardiff Blues.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Sean Lineen will be without a host of internationalists when his side travel to Galway to take on Connacht on Friday night.
Connacht are currently sitting bottom of the league with eight losses from 10 games. However, Lineen’s side to face Connacht will be without captain Alastair Kellock, Chris Cusiter, Dan Parks, Max Evans, Graeme Morrison, Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie, who are all rested ahead of Scotland’s Calcutta Cup match against England a week on Saturday.
The Warriors are unbeaten away from home in their last four games but have never managed to make it five in a row away from home in the Magners League. Lineen knows how important a victory is at Connacht but maintained that it is up to the players to deliver.
"Connacht are on a roll with the way they're playing right now and they are a hard team to beat at home,” said Lineen.
"We've got a group of players here who are hurting after the Cardiff game. They know that how our season progresses is in their hands and it's a huge responsibility, but I know they can do it."
On Sunday, Edinburgh face a tough task against table topping Ospreys and head coach Rob Moffat has given a first start of the season to Simon Webster.
Webster, who has been suffering from a hamstring injury for most of the campaign, started for Scotland A last weekend and Moffat is delighted to have him back.
Moffat said: "Webbo [Simon Webster] is looking sharp and has got some game-time under his belt - we're looking forward to welcoming him back into the starting line-up.
"We realise that Sunday's match is going to be really tough; Ospreys are top of the table because they have been consistently good.
"But league positions can change very quickly and it is important that we make the most of our home advantage to put ourselves back in the play-off spots."
