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'Am I concerned that Danny knows my pack inside out? No, not really'

By PA
Richard Cockerill, Head coach of Edinburgh looks on prior to the Champions Cup Quarter Final match between Edinburgh Rugby and Munster Rugby at Murrayfield Stadium on March 30, 2019 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Richard Cockerill brushed off fears that Glasgow coach Danny Wilson holds all his pack secrets – insisting there are no mysteries left between Warriors and Edinburgh.

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Scotland’s Guinness PRO14 representatives will re-emerge from their five-month Covid-19 lockdown on Saturday for the first of two crucial derby clashes.

The Murrayfield battle will see Wilson take charge of Glasgow for the first time but the former Scotland forwards coach will be on just as familiar terms with the capital city outfit given his two-year stint assisting Gregor Townsend.

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All Blacks coach Ian Foster names Mo’unga and Barrett to face off in North vs South clash

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All Blacks coach Ian Foster names Mo’unga and Barrett to face off in North vs South clash

Cockerill acknowledges Wilson will know exactly which strings should be pulled as Glasgow seek to unpick a pack containing Dark Blue internationals Stuart McInally, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson.

But of more pressing concern to the Edinburgh boss is the knowledge that his side require a solitary point to book a semi-final berth, with Glasgow requiring a miracle to reach the play-offs.

He said: “Am I concerned that Danny knows my pack inside out? No, not really. He sat in plenty of my meetings as well when he was in the Scotland camp.

“There’s no secrets – it’s who can hit the ground ready to go first. We’re ready and primed. Physically we’ll be good.

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“Danny’s a good coach. He’s probably not playing for the play-offs, so his agenda may be different.

“He may look at the bigger picture whereas I’ll look at the shorter term of trying to win to get into a semi-final, then you’re a semi and a final from being champions.

“Of all the four teams that are left in it, as we like it we may well be the underdogs. That’ll suit us and we’ll see how good we are.”

When Cockerill was appointed to the Murrayfield post back in 2017, Glasgow were the nation’s dominant force having become the first Scottish side to claim a major trophy with their PRO12 triumph two years earlier.

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But the balance of power has now swung towards the other end of the M8 with Edinburgh top of Conference B and third-placed Glasgow off the pace in Conference A.

However, you will not find Cockerill declaring his side the finished article.

“We’re not a team with a huge history of success, are we?” said the former England hooker – who hopes “positive” contract talks with the Scottish Rugby Union can be concluded within the next few weeks.

“The reality is that we’ve done well for us but we haven’t won any trophies and we haven’t got any historic silverware in the cabinet.

“We just need to keep out feet on the ground and keep building what we’re doing.

“Glasgow have won the competition. They’ve been in finals and semi-finals so they have that bit of pedigree that we don’t have.

“We’re building that. For us to win our first piece of silverware would be huge.

“We’re miles better than when we started three years ago in terms of how we operate, the players we have, the squad and amount of internationals we have.

“If we have everybody fit and healthy we’ve got a good enough squad to compete with the Munsters, Ulsters, Glasgows, Scarlets and Leinsters of this world.

“There are some big budgets and big players in those teams and we’re not quite at that level yet but we’re certainly punching above our weight.”

 

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Adrian 59 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

7 Go to comments
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Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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