Gilchrist: I’m out to make history with the Gunners
OLD campaigner Grant Gilchrist is determined to become an Edinburgh history man.
The Scotland star will line up against Ulster tomorrow knowing he is 80 minutes away from the Gunners’ debut appearance in a Pro14 final.
And Gilko admitted it is the prospect of snatching the club’s first silverware that inspires him to bounce out of bed in the morning.
As he stepped up preparations for the Murrayfield semi-final, he said: “The Irish provinces have achieved great things in recent years. But we are trying to forge our own history.
“What a fantastic chance we have to be the first Edinburgh team to win a trophy. It is a chance like no other. That’s so exciting – and it is what gets you up in the morning.”
To add to the magnitude of this weekend, Gilchrist will make his 150th outing for the capital side.
He said: “I think it’s pretty clear how much I love playing for Edinburgh and how much the club means to me.
I remember how proud I was when I played my first game – and in every game since I’ve felt the same way. It would be just wonderful to win something during my days here. I feel we’ve got to a point where we can do that.
“If you are good enough to make a semi-final, you’re a bloody good team and I know we are. Until now we haven’t been strong enough to come out on top in these crucial one-off fixtures.
“But the perception is that we have been taking lots of steps forward.
“We were unlucky in the quarter- f inal against Munster last year and were very hard on ourselves because we dominated the game and didn’t win it.
“It was not a good feeling and not one that we want to experience again. We are not content to be unlucky or plucky losers. It is time to step up.”