Glasgow coach jumps to defence of McDowall who faces possible huge ban

Glasgow have expressed disappointment at a citing lodged against centre Stafford McDowall for allegedly making contact with the eye or eye area of Toulon No 8 Facundo Isa in their Investec Champions Cup clash last Sunday.

The Scotland international, 26, will attend an ECPR disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning and if found guilty, could face anything from a ‘low-end’ sanction of a four-week suspension all the way up to a four-year ban if found guilty of intentional eye contact.

A three-man independent panel of Antony Davies (England, chair), former Wales hooker Ken Owens and ex-Springboks wing Stefan Terblanche will hear the citing complaint.

Glasgow assistant coach Peter Murchie said on Wednesday he had not seen the incident in real time.

“I wouldn’t want to say too much until he’s had the hearing, but it’s really unfortunate,” he said. “Knowing Stafford, he is certainly not a malicious player. Obviously it’s a disappointment from his side. We’ll have to see what happens in the hearing in terms of the ramifications.

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“We’re cracking on until we know what the outcome is but obviously it’s disappointing for him and for us. He was excellent against Toulon with his short kicking game and offensively, he was outstanding.

“We’ll have to see what happens. It was a bit of a disappointment.”

Glasgow emerged from the Stade Felix Mayol with two bonus points after scoring a late fourth try in their 30-29 defeat to sit second in Pool 4, a point behind Toulon, heading into their final two group games in January against Racing 92 and Harlequins.

Before then the URC champions’ attention turns to back-to-back festive derbies with Scottish rivals Edinburgh, with the first at Hampden Park, the home of Scottish football, on Sunday.

With uncertainty over McDowall’s availability, fellow Scotland centre Huw Jones is likely to return to the side alongside regular midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu, having shaken off a knee strain which kept him out of the Toulon game.

Warriors also have decisions to make on the make-up of their back three, with captain Kyle Steyn fit again after missing their last seven games and all Scotland’s autumn Tests with a lower-leg injury sustained against Benetton in late September.

Argentine wing Sebastian Cancelliere was rested against Toulon, when scrum-half Jamie Dobie impressed in the No.14 jersey, while Kyle Rowe has also been in good form.

The return to fitness of Scotland full-back Ollie Smith, who can also play on the wing, provides a further option, having emerged unscathed from his comeback for an Emerging Scotland team last weekend after a year out with a serious knee injury.

“It’s great to see him back,” Murchie noted. “He got 50 minutes and played a bit at 13 too, so it was great. It’s pretty much been a year he’s been out, so it’s really good to get him back. For him to pick up those minutes is going to be really important because we have got so many important games coming up.

“He’s in contention. He did pretty well considering it was his first hit-out. The back three is very hotly contested, isn’t it? We’ve got a lot of options available to us in that area.”

Murchie also reported that Scotland No.8 Jack Dempsey, despite “progressing really well”, will not be ready to return until the second game against Edinburgh at the earliest.

“He’s doing more and more,” the defence coach added. “I don’t know about next week, but not this week.”

Long-term absentees, lock JP du Preez and flanker Sione Vailanu, who have both been sidelined for a year with serious knee injuries, have also “still got a little bit to go”.

“They’re both still doing great. They are progressing, but not for this week. You’ve got to get it right. The last thing you want to do is rush guys back when they’re getting to the end point. They’re getting there, but they just need a little bit more time.”