Ashe return delights Townsend

With several of his regular starting contingent away on international duty Townsend turned to flanker Will Bordill in Cork for the top of the table clash, while back row Adam Ashe returned to the fray after injury.

And though defeat saw Warriors drop below Munster to second place in the GUINNESS PRO12 standings, Bordill, 21, was impressive in his first start for the club, while Ashe caught his coach's eye in only his second start in three years at Scotstoun Stadium.

"I was really pleased with the displays of guys who have not had much, or any rugby this season," Townsend told the Glasgow Warriors official website.

"I was also really pleased to see Adam Ashe and Lee Jones return from injury. Adam put in a big shift and did a lot of good things in the game. Will Bordill was excellent on his first start for the club."

On Friday, Glasgow face a far different challenge when 12th-placed Zebre Rugby come to Scotland. Seven of those absent last weekend are back at Townsend's disposal, including Sean Lamont and Peter Horne.

And Townsend believes his team have a golden opportunity to return to the GUINNESS PRO12 summit.

"It's a very big game in the league standings," he added.

"Munster have a big game away to Ospreys and we're only a point behind them, so it would be great to be pushing them going into the break."

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