HEINEKEN CUP: Pool Six:Glasgow v Toulouse: RICHIE GRAY is hoping to justify and build on the plaudits he received in Scotland's autumn campaign as Glasgow meet four-time European champions Toulouse tonight.
The 21-year-old secondrow delivered performances to match his stature – he stands 6ft 8in (2.04m) and weighs 19st 9lbs (125kg) – as Scotland beat world champions South Africa and Samoa last month.
But not content with those displays, Gray knows he must continue to prove himself at the highest level and is under pressure to perform at Firhill tonight.
Gray, whose first Heineken Cup experience was in January 2009 as a non-playing member of the squad which secured a surprise 33-26 win in Toulouse, said: “The autumn Tests went reasonably well from a personal point of view.
“It gives me confidence but there’s also a bit of pressure with that. It’s really about me trying to build on that, so I’ll be feeling a bit of pressure tomorrow night.”
Warriors head coach Sean Lineen this week described Toulouse – who can call on the talents of Thierry Dusautoir and Frederic Michalak – as the All Blacks of the Northern Hemisphere.
They are boosted by the selection of nine internationals tonight. Gray is joined in the starting XV by outhalf Ruaridh Jackson as well as hooker Dougie Hall, prop Moray Low, flanker John Barclay, number eight Richie Vernon and centres Graeme Morrison and Max Evans. Warriors captain Alastair Kellock missed Scotland’s autumn campaign after knee surgery but will start alongside Gray in the secondrow.
The match was under threat due to the arctic conditions which have covered Scotland but the Warriors are confident the game will take place.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: B Stortoni; F Aramburu, M Evans, G Morrison, D van der Merwe; R Jackson, H Pyrgos; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, R Gray, A Kellock (capt), R Harley, J Barclay, R Vernon. Replacements: F Thomson, E Kalman, K Tkachuk, A Muldowney, C Fusaro, C Gregor, P Murchie, H O’Hare.
TOULOUSE: M Medard; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; D Skrela, B Kelleher; J Poux, W Servat, C Johnston, Y Maestri, P Albacete, Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir (capt), S Sowerby. Replacements: V Lacombe, D Human, Y Montes, G Lamboley, N Vergallo, C Poitrenaud, J Bouilhou, L Picamoles Referee: James Jones (Wales).
