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Cockerill: 'It's not just a game - we're representing our city, the people, our families and all the supporters'

By Online Editors
Edinburgh were stung by last weekend's PRO14 defeat to Glasgow (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Richard Cockerill has told his players pride is at stake against Glasgow as Edinburgh battle to keep hold of the 1872 Cup.

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The Murrayfield side have had the upper hand in the inter-city showdowns over the past two years but saw their grip on the trophy loosen last week as they suffered defeat at Scotstoun in the first leg of the three-match series.

Now Cockerill wants his team fired up for the return clash in the capital, which also has Guinness PRO14 points up for grabs. The Englishman said: “We’ve had a good review this week and the players have been able to get a bit of downtime with their friends and families over the Christmas break.

“We’ll have no problems with desire on Saturday. It’s important for us. We’ve got to understand that it’s not just a game of rugby. We’re representing our city. We’re representing the people we play for, our families, and all the supporters.

“We’re going to go full-on and I’m sure Glasgow will come full-on. These are no trials for the national team. We want the points, we want the bragging rights and we want to keep the 1872 Cup that we’ve won the last two years. It’s important for everybody that we represent our city properly.”

(Continue reading below…)

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Cockerill has made three changes following his side’s 20-16 defeat, with Scotland stars Jamie Ritchie and WP Nel both returning to his pack. Nic Groom gets the nod at scrum-half in the only change to the backline.

An unchanged back-three sees Blair Kinghorn – a try-scorer in last weekend’s opening leg at Scotstoun – named at full-back in between wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Scotland centre Mark Bennett once again links-up with George Taylor in midfield, with Simon Hickey at stand-off.

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The inclusion of 35-times capped tighthead Nel is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged front-row as Stuart McInally and Pierre Schoeman continue up-front. Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis form the second-row as Ritchie returns to the back-row alongside openside flanker Hamish Watson and number eight Viliame Mata.

– Press Association 

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Bull Shark 3 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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