Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Saturday 27th April

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Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
Scotstoun Stadium
Glasgow

Saturday 27th April
KO at 19.35

Live on Premier Sports


Well now we have got those trivial European semi finals out of the way, we can concentrate on the most important game of the season so far when the luvies of Edinburgh return to the west to meet the once and future champions!

So what is in this game for both sides?

For Glasgow any kind of win will take them into a home semi final and that may still happen if Munster lose to Connacht should the unthinkable happen and we don't win!

Hard to see what is in it at all for Edinburgh other than pride, as they would need a win and a sequence of unlikely results to go there way even to get into the play off for the last Champs cup place, let alone to qualify for the playoffs, though that does remain a mathematical possibility.

Glasgow, after a poor show against Saracens and that can be slightly qualified by the way they demolished Munster yesterday have continued to build their form and look in very good shape going into this one. They should be further boosted by the return of a few more of their walking wounded, Wilson and Gibbins should be back for this match to add even more steel to their back row.

Edinburgh look as if their season ran out of steam in a dissapointing loss at home to Ulster. For some of their top performers it really looked like it was a game to far and they will have to dig very deep into their tank to find it within themselves to compete for a game that is likely not to get them any tangible reward even if they were to win.

Having said that Edinburgh do seem to take the option of turning up for this match, as opposed to the option of not turning up for other games that they should win comfortably like Dragons, Zebre and the Southern Kings!

On form, this is a Glasgow win all day of the week. However as some of the Edinburgh fans have pointed out, they have won this fixture before despite being the underdogs in the past (well just about every time we play to be honest).

So Glasgow will need to be on their game for this one and i am sure that they will be, with the massive incentive of a home semi and the potential of being in the final at Celtic Park. They are also going to be very peed off at the way we have lost to Edinburgh recently and have the feeling that it is about time that they plaed the real Glasgow team!

So here we go

Discuss!

Edinburgh team's up - our chances have reduced significantly with Hickey starting at 10!



Scotland international back-row, Hamish Watson, will make his 100th appearance for Edinburgh in tomorrow’s 1872 Cup showdown with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in the final game of the regular Guinness PRO14 season (27 April, kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports.

Watson – who becomes the capital side’s 33rd centurion – is named in a starting XV that includes five changes to the side that faced Ulster a fortnight ago.

A revamped centre partnership sees James Johnstone and Chris Dean return from injury to start, while Simon Hickey and Dougie Fife are selected at stand-off and wing respectively in the place of injured duo Jaco van der Walt and Damien Hoyland.

John Barclay, the 71-times capped back-row, is named at blindside flanker in place of Magnus Bradbury – who drops to the bench – in the only alteration to the pack.

Ahead of the fixture, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We have to go there and win with a bonus-point for a chance to qualify for Europe. Glasgow are a good side and right now they are playing with plenty of confidence.

“They are in the top two in their pool, and they may well finish first for the second straight year, because they’ve got very good players.

“But we know we can compete at that level and we’ve shown that this season. But we’ve got to do it again. We’re going to Scotstoun to win.

“We’ve had a good run against them and we’ve to keep believing in ourselves. We’ll go to play our game and we’ll make sure we impose ourselves on them. I’m sure they are saying the same and we’ll both go out to make it a proper derby day again.”

Duhan van der Merwe – twice a scorer in December’s 1872 Cup first leg victory at BT Murrayfield – is partnered by Fife on the wing, with Darcy Graham once again named at fullback.

Centre pairing Dean and Johnstone return to the starting line-up after missing the last two games through injury, while stand-off Hickey – who makes his first start since January – is partnered by Henry Pyrgos at half-back.

An unchanged front-row sees captain Stuart McInally pack down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel, with club centurions Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist named in the second-row.

The inclusion of Barclay at blindside flanker is the only alteration to the back-row as Scotland star Watson and Fijian international No.8 Viliame Mata complete the pack.



Edinburgh team to face Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun in the Guinness PRO14 on Saturday 27 April (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports



15. Darcy Graham (23)



14. Dougie Fife (123)

13. James Johnstone (40)

12. Chris Dean (85)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (40)



10. Simon Hickey (18)

9. Henry Pyrgos (23)



1. Pierre Schoeman (22)

2. Stuart McInally (136) CAPTAIN

3. WP Nel (133)

4. Ben Toolis (109)

5. Grant Gilchrist (136)

6. John Barclay (4)

7. Hamish Watson (99)

8. Viliame Mata (59)



Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (198); 17. Rory Sutherland (74). 18. Simon Berghan (66); 19. Callum Hunter-Hill (17); 20. Magnus Bradbury (64); 21. Charlie Shiel (5); 22. Jason Baggott (1); 23. Mark Bennett (19)

Unavailable due to injury: Allan Dell; Cameron Fenton; David Cherry; Lewis Carmichael; Jamie Ritchie; Jaco van der Walt; Damien Hoyland; Blair Kinghorn

According to some guy on the Glasgow forum, Huw Jones is raging he's not being picked. If I had to guess it sounds like maybe there's some Hoggy to Ulster era I'm too big for this club diva issues.

Doesn't surprise me. Huw does need a boot up the erse by the sounds of it. Down to him how he responds. We've got Stafford's disciple at Northampton who sounds like he's being eyed up for Scotland and Glasgow have a new Saffer in at 13.

They say class is permanent so let's hope he responds well.

Dean and JJ back starting after Scott and Bennett do very little to stake their claim.

With Hickey at 10 I can't see our tactics varying much!

Fraser Brown has been named Glasgow Warriors captain for tomorrow’s sold-out game against neighbours Edinburgh, as Dave Rennie makes just one change to his starting XV.

Glasgow defeated reigning Champions Leinster at the RDS in their last outing and Head Coach Rennie has rewarded the team that won in Dublin, with the one change enforced by an injury to Chris Fusaro.

Glasgow know that a win against the capital side will guarantee them top spot in Conference A and a home semi-final in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series.

Tom Gordon replaces Fusaro in the back-row, the 22-year-old making his first home start for the club. He started the PRO14 win against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park in February and this will be his fourth appearance in a Warriors shirt, fresh from signing a new two-year deal this week.

On the bench, club co-captain Ryan Wilson is selected for the first time since getting injured playing for Scotland back in February.

Since injuring his hamstring in the opening minutes at the RDS, Chris Fusaro has now successfully undergone surgery and will not feature for the club again this season. Tim Swinson has undergone ankle surgery and will also be unavailable for the remaining games of this campaign.

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Dave Rennie said: “Ever since we dropped to second in the conference behind Munster back in January we’ve been under pressure and we’ve not lost a game since then.

“To win titles you have to be able to perform under pressure and we’ve shown in recent weeks, especially in the last two rounds against Ulster here and Leinster in Dublin, that we can rise to those occasions and actually thrive when there is a lot at stake.

“We’ve got ourselves in a good spot and we know if we win tomorrow night we won’t have to leave Glasgow again this season.”

Glasgow Warriors team to play Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO14, Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday 27 April, kick-off 7.35pm, live on Premier Sports 1. You can follow the game on Twitter @GlasgowWarriors. Glasgow Warriors appearances in brackets:
1. Jamie Bhatti (44)
2. Fraser Brown (C) (87)
3. Zander Fagerson (78)
4. Scott Cummings (55)
5. Jonny Gray (101)
6. Rob Harley (209)
7. Tom Gordon (3)
8. Matt Fagerson (45)

9. Ali Price (74)
10. Adam Hastings (28)
11. Niko Matawalu (114)
12. Sam Johnson (49)
13. Kyle Steyn (7)
14. Tommy Seymour (129)
15. Stuart Hogg (118)

Replacements

16. Grant Stewart (22)
17. Alex Allan (89)
18. D’Arcy Rae (60)
19. Tevita Tameilau (5)
20. Ryan Wilson (151)
21. George Horne (39)
22. Pete Horne (156)
23. Rory Hughes (45)

Unavailable players: Adam Ashe (head), Bruce Flockhart (shoulder), Chris Fusaro (hamstring), Callum Gibbins (head), Nick Grigg (ankle), Siua Halanukonuka (shoulder), Lee Jones (knee), Oli Kebble (back), Tim Swinson (ankle) George Turner (head) and DTH van der Merwe (shoulder).

See, the SRUhave told Edinburgh to play Hickey at 10 to give Glasgow as much of a chance as possible.

Clear SRU bias towards Glasgow once again!

I'd not be surpirsed if Munster lodge a formal complaint!

Glasgow backrow v Edinburgh one -

RDW wrote:Glasgow backrow v Edinburgh one -

Given how pedestrian your backrow were against Ulster I'd maybe save that till after the game! None of them look fit and Mata especially looks like he needs a long rest.

What a chance for Tom Gordon though. The club clearly rate him very highly.

If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

RDW wrote:If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

By that logic you're basing things on a game where Scarlets were comfortably in front, went off the boil a bit and Van Der Walt (who isn't playing) scored an interception try.

Who is Tom Gordon???

RDW wrote:If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

Since Scarletts are having their worst season since TigetTattie could see his toes, that's no boast.

From 9-15 it is so unfair Glasgow should give you a start.

Back rows should be interesting to say the least. Can't wait till Batman and the Angry Yank come on. All will not be peace and harmony.

Glasgow to collect five points and the Exfoliators to have the Diddy Cup to look forward to.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Who is Tom Gordon???

He's the next coming of Sam Warburton and Pocock rolled into one. He's "world class" but he hasnt had 7,876,478 minutes of pro rugby so you won't want him in the Scotland team.

jimbopip wrote:

RDW wrote:If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

Since Scarletts are having their worst season since TigetTattie could see his toes, that's no boast.

From 9-15 it is so unfair Glasgow should give you a start.

Back rows should be interesting to say the least. Can't wait till Batman and the Angry Yank come on. All will not be peace and harmony.

Glasgow to collect five points and the Exfoliators to have the Diddy Cup to look forward to.

Ehhhhhhh. I can see my toes

See, they are down there!

Batman off the bench you say. We have Bradbury.

all joking aside, Edinburgh to win by 9

tigertattie wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

RDW wrote:If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

Since Scarletts are having their worst season since TigetTattie could see his toes, that's no boast.

From 9-15 it is so unfair Glasgow should give you a start.

Back rows should be interesting to say the least. Can't wait till Batman and the Angry Yank come on. All will not be peace and harmony.

Glasgow to collect five points and the Exfoliators to have the Diddy Cup to look forward to.

Ehhhhhhh. I can see my toes

See, they are down there!

Batman off the bench you say. We have Bradbury.

all joking aside, Edinburgh to win by 9

And I'm sure he'll be great in the four and half minutes Cockers gives him.

tigertattie wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Who is Tom Gordon???

He's the next coming of Sam Warburton and Pocock rolled into one. He's "world class" but he hasnt had 7,876,478 minutes of pro rugby so you won't want him in the Scotland team.

Ah, does he herald from Ayr by any chance??

Sounds like Watson and Barclay should be worried. This guy might be better than Chris Fusaro....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Who is Tom Gordon???

He's the next coming of Sam Warburton and Pocock rolled into one. He's "world class" but he hasnt had 7,876,478 minutes of pro rugby so you won't want him in the Scotland team.

Ah, does he herald from Ayr by any chance??

Sounds like Watson and Barclay should be worried. This guy might be better than Chris Fusaro....

I'm assuming Fusaro is the same king of player as Wilson - you can't see what he's actually contributing on the pitch but he keeps getting picked for some reason...

tigertattie wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

RDW wrote:If you're basing things on a one off rubbish performance (remembering we beat Scarlets in Wales the weekend before), given that the players have had a 2 week rest now, you may be in for a surprise!

Since Scarletts are having their worst season since TigetTattie could see his toes, that's no boast.

From 9-15 it is so unfair Glasgow should give you a start.

Back rows should be interesting to say the least. Can't wait till Batman and the Angry Yank come on. All will not be peace and harmony.

Glasgow to collect five points and the Exfoliators to have the Diddy Cup to look forward to.

Ehhhhhhh. I can see my toes

See, they are down there!

"Down there" doesn't count if you're lying on your back and MrsTattie is hoisting your legs toward the ceiling.

I imagine you'll be comfort eating and drowning your sorrows all Saturday night, so much so that even with herself helping it will be a while before those little piggies are visible again.

Mind you, you'll have a nice new Glasgow jersey to wear.

I can see why H Jones is raging. What exactly has Hughes done in the last year that suggests he should be there over H Jones and Nairn?

Decent side for Glasgow. There is enough there to beat Edinburgh if they can avoid getting into scrum after scrum with them. Edinburgh's bench options in the halfbacks are...not experienced. Pyrgos and Hickey are going to have to stay on until the game is decided one way or another

I am a bit surprised Shuggy is not on the bench at least, so maybe he did throw his toys out of the pram!

It is hard not to pick Steyn though, he has not put a foot wrong since he started and definitely looks a better OC than a wing.

Keeping all of his centres happy, especially once Grigg is back as well is going to become a major headache for DR.

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Decent side for Glasgow. There is enough there to beat Edinburgh if they can avoid getting into scrum after scrum with them. Edinburgh's bench options in the halfbacks are...not experienced. Pyrgos and Hickey are going to have to stay on until the game is decided one way or another

They always do anyway!

Worth saying neither bench is particularly great - G Horne will bring plenty pace and Bradbury will bring plenty power, but other than that most others aren't going to change the game.

RDW wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Who is Tom Gordon???

He's the next coming of Sam Warburton and Pocock rolled into one. He's "world class" but he hasnt had 7,876,478 minutes of pro rugby so you won't want him in the Scotland team.

Ah, does he herald from Ayr by any chance??

Sounds like Watson and Barclay should be worried. This guy might be better than Chris Fusaro....

I'm assuming Fusaro is the same king of player as Wilson - you can't see what he's actually contributing on the pitch but he keeps getting picked for some reason...

Although Wilson is on the bench, which would suggest to me that Rennie has sussed him out. Hopefully Toonie won't do anything daft like take him to the World Cup.

RDW wrote:Worth saying neither bench is particularly great - G Horne will bring plenty pace and Bradbury will bring plenty power, but other than that most others aren't going to change the game.

Both come on, Bradbury runs over Horne to score a try.

Restart and Horne runs round Bradbury to score one of his own.

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:Worth saying neither bench is particularly great - G Horne will bring plenty pace and Bradbury will bring plenty power, but other than that most others aren't going to change the game.

Both come on, Bradbury runs over Horne to score a try.

Restart and Horne runs round Bradbury to score one of his own.

The difference is that Bradbury may not get on for more than about 5 mins, whereas we know Georgie will get a good 20.

To be fair, Cockers has used his back row subs pretty early since Barclay came back. Bardbury has tended to come around the 60 minute mark.

Still crazy that Ritchie hasn't had a look in since the 6N.

RDW wrote:To be fair, Cockers has used his back row subs pretty early since Barclay came back. Bardbury has tended to come around the 60 minute mark.

Still crazy that Ritchie hasn't had a look in since the 6N.

Hasn't ritchie got a bit of a niggle at the moment? Or am I thinking of one of the other walking wounded?

He did after the 6N but has been fit since the Munster game (where he got 5 minutes).

Cockers could easily have rotated Ritchie and Bradbury on the bench for the last few games but has stuck with Bradbury.

RDW wrote:He did after the 6N but has been fit since the Munster game (where he got 5 minutes).

Cockers could easily have rotated Ritchie and Bradbury on the bench for the last few games but has stuck with Bradbury.

Sounds like madness I know, but could Cockers have looked to have had Ritchie on the bench, Bradbury at 8 and Mata getting a rest?

I think if we weren't at the tail end of the season that is what would have happened. Mata to give his last ounce of nergy before a nice summer holiday I think

Ritchie still listed as injured

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:He did after the 6N but has been fit since the Munster game (where he got 5 minutes).

Cockers could easily have rotated Ritchie and Bradbury on the bench for the last few games but has stuck with Bradbury.

Sounds like madness I know, but could Cockers have looked to have had Ritchie on the bench, Bradbury at 8 and Mata getting a rest?

I think if we weren't at the tail end of the season that is what would have happened. Mata to give his last ounce of nergy before a nice summer holiday I think

Doesn't matter which of the Morningside Maidens Line Dancers    you put out. You are going to receive the chastening you so richly deserve.

Saturday evening It'll be fun.

p.s. On Fridays I have one of the loveliest classes I have ever taught. 19/20 year old Child Development students. They are all sweet young ladies and all mad as a bag of frogs. This morning two of them asked me if I had had an Easter egg. I explained that when MrsPip was loading the shopping trolley I went into a rant about how we never go to church, are atheist and have lots of better quality chocolate at home.
" Fine" she said, putting the biggest one back on the shelf, " No egg for you then!".
So when my lovely girls returned for the afternoon session they presented me with an egg.
"You said your wife didn't buy you an Easter egg, Jimbo" they giggled.
"She never bought me a Porsche either" Was my , hopeful, reply.

jimbopip wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:He did after the 6N but has been fit since the Munster game (where he got 5 minutes).

Cockers could easily have rotated Ritchie and Bradbury on the bench for the last few games but has stuck with Bradbury.

Sounds like madness I know, but could Cockers have looked to have had Ritchie on the bench, Bradbury at 8 and Mata getting a rest?

I think if we weren't at the tail end of the season that is what would have happened. Mata to give his last ounce of nergy before a nice summer holiday I think

Doesn't matter which of the Morningside Maidens Line Dancers    you put out. You are going to receive the chastening you so richly deserve.

Saturday evening It'll be fun.

p.s. On Fridays I have one of the loveliest classes I have ever taught. 19/20 year old Child Development students. They are all sweet young ladies and all mad as a bag of frogs. This morning two of them asked me if I had had an Easter egg. I explained that when MrsPip was loading the shopping trolley I went into a rant about how we never go to church, are atheist and have lots of better quality chocolate at home.
" Fine" she said, putting the biggest one back on the shelf, " No egg for you then!".
So when my lovely girls returned for the afternoon session they presented me with an egg.
"You said your wife didn't buy you an Easter egg, Jimbo" they giggled.
"She never bought me a Porsche either"  Was my , hopeful, reply.

That whole post was absolutely brilliant.

Eejit,

Just looking at the permutations for today; the Luvvies ONLY need Zebras to win and then pick up a bonus point win at The Home of The Once And Future Champions.


Yes that's Zebras who have won three games all season , including one against the Mary Berry Appreciation Society.

And that's a Win Bonus Point for the same Interior Design Enthusiasts who haven't scored a Try Bonus Point against the Rugby Club since 2008. Which is the last time TigerTattie could squeeze into his XXXL Kaffe Fassett knitwear collection. Also the last time FEs gave his domestic staff a Christmas bonus.

I wonder if we'll see a back row of Batman-Tamiflu-Not Gay Gordon close out the game. I've got a feeling that could be the most madmental breakdown squad we've put out in a while.

Scarlets should also ease to five points today as well which means Edinburgh need the five themselves to get into champions cup qualification.

They weather today is absolutely honking. Not much wind but the rain is constant.

Looking like a stick it up the jumper kind of day.

Does that play into Edinburgh's hands?

Good thing it’s at home on artificial surface so a bit more difficult for the Edinburgh front row to blatantly cheat and get away with it.

Glorious sunshine through in Edinburgh, fancy moving the game?

Sun is out here too but something like a 90% chance of rain at kickoff.

Good day to you Mr Spoons.

I notice that your co0Luvvies are conspicuous by their absence today. On the train to the Dear Green Place/ Or in hiding?

Dragons currently beating the Scarlets!

As you were

Scarlets lose but pick up 2 BPs - we need 2 points to overtake them.

Draw anyone??

That was a great game. Fair play Dragons.

So the luvvies need two points to have the chance to be in the big boy Cup next year.

COME. ON. GLASGOW.

Eejit wrote:That was a great game. Fair play Dragons.

So the luvvies need two points to have the chance to be in the big boy Cup next year.

5 points coming right up....

Jonny Gray pulled out as he’s taken unwell. Ginger Tackle Monster moves into second row, Wilson to 6 and Kiran McDonald on the bench.

Hope the big man feels better soon.

Running scared from the Edinburgh pack!

RDW wrote:Running scared from the Edinburgh pack!

Cockers has resorted to food poisoning to avoid an absolute battering is infinitely more likely.

Treviso pumping zebre so no help there

Main event time!