Everything you need to know as Glasgow Warriors host Zebre

Zebre Parma haven’t won a league match outside Italy since November 2019.

Kevin Millar previews the game.

KO 7.35, Scotstoun Stadium Friday October 11 2024, Live on Premier Sports 1

• The Warriors’ forwards have outscored their backs by 19 tries to nine across the last four meetings with Zebre at Scotstoun.
• Jamie Dobie starts for the fourth match in succession – for the first time in his Warriors’ career.
• There are 22 combined changes from the 23s that were selected the last time these sides met in Glasgow less than five months ago with 15 of the Warriors’ lineup returning compared to nine for Zebre.
• The Warriors are looking for their 100th URC regular season victory at Scotstoun.
• There are 14 capped internationals in the Glasgow starting XV with Euan Ferrie the only player who hasn’t featured in a Test match.
• Two weeks ago, Benetton travelled to Scotstoun with 14 Italian internationals in their 23. Zebre have just nine in their squad for this game and of that nine, only Trulla, Zambonin and Fusco have played for the Azzurri in the last year. The gulf between the two Italian sides looks like it will only continue to get bigger.
• Johnny Matthews loves this fixture more than anyone and he is the Warrior to Watch.

The teams

Glasgow Warriors vs Zebre Parma teams (Image: Kevin Millar)

(players in CAPITALS are full capped internationals, numbers in brackets are previous appearances for Glasgow / Zebre)

Head to Head

Glasgow Warriors vs Zebre Parma head-to-heads (Image: Kevin Millar)

Glasgow Greetings

Replacement hooker, Grant Stewart, will be the 33rd player to feature for the Warriors this season.

This will be his first outing at Scotstoun since returning to the club towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Franco Smith has selected Grant Stewart for the first time this season (Image: SNS) Coincidentally, his last home game was also in the number 16 shirt against Zebre, 925 days ago on April 1 2022 when he replaced hat-trick hero Johnny Matthews in the 65th minute.

Another sub, Patrick Shickerling, is in line to make his home debut for Glasgow following his first appearance for the club last week in Cardiff.

Hornstings is back! The partnership of George Horne and Adam Hastings at 9 and 10 was reunited in the summer when they started for Scotland v USA but this will be their first start together in the half-backs for the Warriors since August 2020.

Matchday Milestones

Huw Jones will play for the 50th time in the URC, a couple of months short of seven years since his try-scoring league debut against Edinburgh.

The centre has the lowest ratio of URC matches to European games of any player in the squad, with 32% of his appearances coming in the Champions or Challenge Cup.

For the opposition, tighthead prop Matteo Nocera will play his 50th game for Zebre having also debuted against Glasgow as a teenager in 2019

Warrior to Watch

This match-up should really be renamed the Johnny Matthews Bowl. The hooker has dominated try scoring in encounters between these sides at Scotstoun over the past few years.

2021/22 tries: 3rd minute, 42nd minute, 62nd minute

2022/23 tries: 9th minute, 27th minute, 40th minute

2023/24 tries: 31st minute, 65th minute

The tries are the icing on the cake for Matthews’ performances though. He consistently puts in his tackles and carries as well, with a particular love for making a big bust through in the wide channels.

Johnny Matthews has enjoyed this fixture in the past (Image: SNS) Playing in the style of an auxiliary back row, he is also a key turnover threat for Glasgow.

It’s still those tries that will ultimately get the fans on their feet and there is every chance he will add to his tally on Friday evening.

Current form

Glasgow Warriors vs Zebre Parma form guide (Image: Kevin Millar) Glasgow at home to Zebre in the PRO12/PRO14/URC era:

• 11 wins
• 10 Try bonus points
• 54 points out of a possible 55 (98%)

Previous league match-up v Zebre at Scotstoun

Officials

Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, league debut); Assistants: Mike Adamson and Chelsea Gillespie; TMO: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

After a five year hiatus for South African officials at Scotstoun was ended by Marius van der Westerhuizen a fortnight ago, Mr Colby makes it two games in a row in what will be his first URC fixture

In fact, it will be three consecutive matches with SARU referees for Glasgow, after Morne Ferreira (in the TMO van for this one) took charge of a wild encounter in Cardiff in round two

The Warriors have won both of those previous games this season – after a five match losing streak under Saffer officials which extended back prior to the Covid pandemic.

Mr Colby has refereed at U20 level, on the 7s circuit and in the Currie Cup so has worked his way up to a debut at this level. There will still be a learning curve for all involved as they try to work out the ref’s tolerance in key areas.