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1872 Cup Leg 1: Edinburgh vs Glasgow Squads Announced

Adam Ashe Photo Credit: © Alastair Ross / Novantae Photography
Adam Ashe - © Alastair Ross / Novantae Photography

The teams are out for the first (and only festive) leg of the 1872 Cup.

As usual for Scotland fans there are some interesting matchups, starting with Blair Kinghorn and Stuart Hogg at fullback. Both men are in fine fettle but a strong effort from the youngster might snag him an invite to the Six Nations training camp, even if he is unlikely to feature in the matchday squads just yet.

At standoff, Duncan Weir faces off against Finn Russell, the loon that stole his 10 shirt at Glasgow and Sam Hidalgo Clyne will be hoping for a good game at 9 against Henry Pyrgos. With Ali Price and Sean Kennedy also about, all the pretenders to Greig Laidlaw’s throne will be playing. Overall Glasgow have the more starry back division even if Tommy Seymour is absent. Times are a changing when Mark Bennett looks like a B option thrown out against weaker opposition and he has a huge point to prove ahead of the Six Nations.

Up front there are some tasty matchups with Zander Fagerson packing down opposite Al Dickinson, and – as close as you get to an old school trial – Ross Ford opposite Fraser Brown. The continued absence of WP Nel is disappointing however. Behind them Gray vs Gilchrist could be a decisive matchup if it turns into a rolling maul contest, while the back rows are very evenly matched with internationals all round.

One to watch: now Harley and Strauss are in fine form, Magnus Bradbury would love to lay down a marker to keep him in Vern Cotter’s thoughts.

Welcome back: Adam Ashe will be a welcome return for Glasgow (still no second rows though), and Phil Burleigh for Edinburgh returns after his ban for the PapeSlappe™.

Key matchup: Fagerson vs Dickinson in the scrum, and indeed the loose, could be epic.

Edinburgh: 15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Damien Hoyland, 13. Chris Dean, 12. Phil Burleigh, 11. Tom Brown, 10. Duncan Weir, 9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1. Alasdair Dickinson, 2. Ross Ford, 3. Simon Berghan, 4. Ben Toolis, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. Magnus Bradbury, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Cornell Du Preez
Replacements: 16. Stuart McInally, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Murray McCallum, 19. Fraser McKenzie, 20. Viliame Mata, 21. Sean Kennedy, 22. Jason Tovey, 23. Glenn Bryce

Not available due to injury: Michael Allen (knee), Anton Bresler (groin), Kevin Bryce (shoulder), John Hardie (ankle), WP Nel (neck), Alex Northam (ankle), Rory Sutherland (groin)

Glasgow: 15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Junior Bulumakau, 13. Mark Bennett, 12. Alex Dunbar, 11. Lee Jones, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Henry Pyrgos CO-CAPTAIN; 1. Alex Allan, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Brian Alainu’uese, 5. Jonny Gray CO-CAPTAIN, 6. Rob Harley, 7. Simone Favaro, 8. Josh Strauss
Replacements: 16. Pat MacArthur, 17. Ryan Grant, 18. Sila Puafisi, 19. Adam Ashe, 20. Chris Fusaro, 21. Ali Price, 22. Nick Grigg, 23. Sean Lamont

Not available due to injury: Scott Cummings (shoulder), Peter Horne (knee / ankle), Rory Hughes (knee), Greg Peterson (shoulder), Leonardo Sarto (shoulder), Tjiuee Uanivi (shoulder) and Richie Vernon (shoulder).

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU). AR1: Mike Adamson (SRU). AR2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
Broadcaster: BBC2 Scotland (kick off 4.05pm)

UPDATE: You can also read an in-depth preview by our contributor Kevin Millar over on his own site.

22 Responses

  1. Strong teams out and some good match-ups throughout the sides. Looking forward to seeing how the front rows, back rows and 15’s compare.
    Over the last few years, it has seemed like the only positive thing about Edinburgh’s season has been beating Glasgow.
    It’s about time they competed with the same intensity against the other Pro 12 teams.

  2. Looking forward to this one, as a weegie I’d say Glasgow definitely stronger team all round.

    Bennett seems alot lighter than he was before the 7’s, gets held up in the tackle alot more.

  3. The level of Glasgow’s performances in the two matches against Racing should give them the edge but last season Edinburgh overturned the odds in the two matches. It would be good to have a bit more needle in the build-up given this is in theory a local derby. The press are barely building up the match. Need players and fans to generate more passion and rivalry or otherwise its just another Pro 12 match. One gets the feeling on hear that most bloggers are ambivalent about the professional club game, being pre-occupied by the performance of the national team.
    Shame the powers that be have drained the prospect of fan-generated atmosphere by holding it at Murrayfield.

    1. Most of our bloggers are very passionate about the pro-game but as we live or work outside of the central belt are neutral, with the exception of John who I am sure you will notice is pro-Glasgow! Our coverage is also targeted by what the readers seem to be interested in, but the site started with a focus on Scotland and a trickle down to levels below.

      1. I think decades starved of success has got rid of any Scottish rugby tribalism at pro-level. I went to school in Perthshire and lived in Edinburgh for a decade so support Edinburgh, but in all honesty watch Glasgow play as often and root for their success just as much. We don’t have the luxury as Scottish rugby fans to care who delivers success, just as long as someone is flying the flag. There might be some Edinburgh-Glasgow rivalry, but honestly if you are a rugby fan from Aberdeen or Dundee why would that matter to you at all.

        I don’t think posters on here are ambivalent about the pro-game at all. I think Glasgow’s success has sent a real electric shock through Scotland’s rugby community and I desperately hope Esinburgh can emulate it. Glasgow’s pro-12 final was as eagerly watched as any Scotland game and if they get through to a ECC QFeveryone will be watching!

    2. As a Central Belt Scot now living in exile in the English Midlands I can’t fathom why there is any need for “needle”. The players will, if they are professional, be treating this as “just another Pro 12 match”. If they let their hearts rule their heads then they will make mistakes – either in terms of game decisions, or with regard to the more physical aspects of the game. Think Fusaro and McLeod in 2010 – 2 players off the park for being eejits.

      The fans will enjoy the game, even though some families may be divided. I support Glasgow, my brother Edinburgh. Should we be arguing with each other, or just watching a good game of rugby, played with commitment and intensity and the best side come out on top?

  4. Agree with PO above, Edinburgh only seem to turn up for two games a season.

    Would have preferred to see Price instead of Pyrgos to inject some pace into the game – in my view, the premature introduction of Pyrgos against Racing cost us the bp.

    Not looking forward to watching wee Duncy in and Edinburgh team – feels wrong and don’t think I’ll be able to relish the Favaro missile in the same way. For Duncs sake, hope there is no last minute drop goal or penalty opportunity to win the game.

  5. As someone who is obliged to live ‘daaarn saaaarf’ I only ever get to see the Boxing Day fixture or when Glasgow or Edinburgh play an English side. In fact, I’ll be at Welford Road and The Stoop in Jan to cheer on the Scots lads! If it wasn’t for this blog, I’d have a job keeping up to speed with Gla and Ed goss etc. The Scotsman needs to buck it’s ideas up (fire Morrison) and the Courier has more coverage of pro and club rugby than the Herald!

    I am looking forward to a humdinger on Monday evening!

    1. If you have BBC Iplayer on a device, go into settings and change the region to Scotland, then you’ll get it on the regular BBC2 when you go to watch live. I do it regularly to get things on Welsh or NI BBC.

      1. You should be able to access the Alba (or English language commentaries and radio coverage) feed through BBC Sport pages too.

      2. Frazer, I suspect from your post you don’t have Sky, so Scott’s response will get you the game. But if you can get Sky, BBC2 Scotland is hidden away on channel 970.

      3. Do you know if this works in France etc? Lucky enough to be away over Christmas but have not found it possible to watch Iplayer here.

      4. I have managed to find myself still stranded in England on Boxing Day, so this is excellent news. Thanks Scott!

      5. Kilry – the iPlayer won’t work outside of the UK unless you use a VPN to fool it into thinking that your ip address is from the UK. I use Hola (installed in Google Chrome) and it works fine when abroad and also for watching overseas programmes here which are locked to a region.

  6. Hope the match gives us some greater depth from a Scotland perspective…it would be great if Simon Berghan had a useful game. Hoping to see Kinghorn, Hoyland and Bradbury play well too. Most of all hope it’s a good game with no injuries.

  7. The onus is on the coaches, players and referees to entertain crowds with fast flowing, exciting rugby. Inspire our youth to fanatical support for Pro12 Scottish rugby sides.

    Glasgow by 18 points. Russell will command.

  8. Really looking forward to this game. Glasgow seem to have rediscovered their mojo in the games against Racing 92. Edinburgh on the other hand have been playing some exciting attacking rugby, but paired with some defensive frailties. Can’t wait!

    As an aside, does anyone have any details on the rumour that Ryan Grant is going to France on loan for the rest of the season?

  9. I reckon Finn Russell is the man to steer Glasgow to a fairly comfortable victory today, Weir is too slow & I reckon Favaro will be employed to “get right intae him”.
    Back/Front-row(s) will be fascinating
    Some guys I’ll be keeping a close eye on – Simon Berghan, Cornell Du Preez for Edinburgh & Alex Dunbar for Glasgow (a Lion & crucial to Glasgow/Scotland for me)

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