Proud Scot Redpath puts national loyalty aside

SCOTSMAN Bryan Redpath knows he can mastermind Glasgow’s Heineken Cup demise tonight when his Gloucester team arrive north of the border.

And the former Scotland international scrum-half insists national loyalties cannot be allowed to interfere.

“I am a Scotsman through and through, and just because I work in England doesn’t mean I haven’t the same passion to see the country do well,” said Redpath. “But I want to qualify for the quarter-finals – loyalty stops when your job is on the line.”

Gloucester will move second in Pool Two if they win at Firhill, while a third successive defeat would mean no way back for Glasgow.

“Scottish people have bags of passion and pride, and I am under no illusion about how difficult facing them will be,” added Gloucester head coach Redpath. “I know Firhill is a tough place and we won’t be used to playing at such a small venue, but it will be great fun and I am looking forward to the game.’’

Flanker Peter Buxton will captain a Gloucester team that also includes England number eight Luke Narraway for his first start of the season, while Carlos Spencer lines up at full-back instead of Olly Morgan.

In the Amlin Challenge Cup tonight, unbeaten Guinness Premiership top dogs Saracens face a tough challenge at Top 14 leaders Castres, having come unstuck on their last trip to France when Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon beat them two months ago.

“This is effectively a knockout game,” said Saracens coach Mark McCall. “Knowing that only the pool winner goes through and having already lost in Toulon, there is a greater significance on this game. This is a game we want to win, as we want to be involved in big matches, play-off games, semi-finals and finals.

“Castres have won a lot of close games this season, and in Romain Teulet they have one of the best goalkickers in France, so we will have to be very disciplined.”

Saracens show a handful of changes from the side that narrowly beat Sale Sharks last weekend, including starts for out-half Glen Jackson and hooker Ethienne Reynecke.

Elsewhere, Toulon will rest Wilkinson for the home clash against Italian side Rovigo, and Montpellier host Madrid in Pool Two.