Ayr v Ulster Ravens preview

Ayr welcome Ulster Ravens to Millbrae tomorrow for the British and Irish Cup, and the home team will have some Glasgow Warriors boosting the ranks.

 

It's been a tough few weeks in the RBS Premiership for the men in pink and black, but the B&I Cup is a different challenge for the players to get their teeth into, and Ayr head coach Peter Laverie is appreciative of that.

 

"The benefits from games like these are: testing yourself against full-time opposition, raising your skill standards and developing a higher physical intensity, as well as game speed," he says.  "It also gives the team a real thrill to have a crack at some of the big teams."

 

It's sure to be an exciting day all round, with a big home crowd, 150 people at the Farmers' Day pre-match lunch and the cameras from Sky Sports catching it all, as well as Ireland international Paddy Wallace expected to take to the field for Ulster Ravens as part of his comeback from a long-term knee injury.

 

"It's all great for the club game and what an incentive to perform for our players. Hopefully the weather will be kind enough to have an open game of entertaining rugby," Laverie concludes.

With the B&I Cup allowing two more players in the replacements, and the inclusion of the Warriors, there are some notable changes to this week's line-up.  Namibian-born Scotland 7s cap Byron McGuigan starts on the left wing, with Richard Dalgleish on the right.

 

In the forwards, flanker James Eddie is also released by Glasgow Warriors to make another welcome start in pink and black this season.  Ayr's November player of the month Peter McCallum moves to number eight, meaning Callum Templeton partners Scott Sutherland in the second row.

 

Former Millbrae man, and firm Ayr favourite, Gordon Reid gets his first chance to play for his old club this season, as he takes his place on a very strong bench with fellow Warriors Finlay Gillies and Scott Wight.

 



 

Team:

15. Grant Anderson (capt.), 14. Richard Dalgleish, 13. Ross Curle, 12. Robbie Fergusson, 11. Byron McGuigan; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Murray McConnell; 1. George Hunter, 2. Fergus Scott, 3. D'arcy Rae; 4. Callum Templeton, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. James Eddie, 7. Andrew Dunlop, 8. Peter McCallum.

 

Replacements:

16. Finlay Gillies, 17. Gordon Reid, 18. Nick Cox, 19. Graham Williamson, 20. Peter Jericevich, 21. Scott Wight, 22. Kerr Gossman.

 

Please note the earlier kick-off of 2.30pm.