EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES
Cockerill lights the blue touch paper as he tells rival Wilson he’s at it over Covid wails
RICHARD COCKERILL reckons Danny Wilson is making up excuses by claiming Warriors are underdogs today.
While Glasgow may be missing key men Fraser Brown, George Horne and Leone Nakarawa – on top of having six more are out due to Covid – the Edinbugh boss insists they have a big enough budget to cope.
Cockerill confirmed he has spoken frequently with Scottish Rugby chief Mark Dodson about evening up the wage bills between the two clubs but he hasn’t had any joy yet. He said: “It’s Edinburgh against Glasgow so we’re definitely not favourites. “They’re a good squad. They operate on a bigger budget than Edinburgh so they should have a good squad. I don’t think Glasgow are a poor team in any shape or form. They should pick ffrom strength because becau they have a deep squad and some very good players.” playe Glasgow Gl gaffer Wilson Wilso spoke earlier this wweek about the selection selec issues he was facing but Cockerill Coc is having none non of it. He said: “It sounded like Danny was getting his excuses in, didn’t it? Like us, they have the odd body missing but that is a very good forward pack they’ve selected.
“And that backline – Huw Jones, Lee Jones, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Ratu Tagive, Brandon Thomson, Ali Price – it’s pretty sharp.”
Cockerill has recalled Scotland stars Jamie Ritchie, Darcy Graham and Henry Pyrgos for this match.
That means youngsters Jack Blain and Charlie Shiel drop out the squad while Magnus Bradbury is on the bench – despite being part of Edinburgh’s best display of the season when they defeated Sale Sharks in the European Champions Cup in their last outing.
Cockerill said: “Giving guys opportunities and developing young players is important and they did well. But ultimately you pick what you think is good enough to win the next game. We need the league points to make sure we stay in touch with the teams in second and third.
“The realistic target is to qualify for Europe next year and get as far as we can.”
And while Wilson did have his moans and groans, he’s boosted by the return of Richie Gray.
The big lock, 31, has been out with concussion for more than two months but is making a comeback at the right time.
Wilson said: “It’s great to have him back. He’s in a good place and looking forward to getting back on the field – and we are looking forward to having him out there.
“He’s not played a huge amount of rugby for us. We all know what his experience brings, his leadership, his lineout work. He’s a talisman in terms of Scottish rugby and it’s great to have him out there. He’s a fans’ favourite as well. At the same time we have to give him the chance to work himself back into rugby after being out for a longish time.
“Apart from that he’s in a good place and ready to play.
“It really makes for an interesting game as we go there as underdogs away from home with a chance to cause an upset.
“We’re comfortable with the guys we’re putting out there, they’re good players.
“But when internationals are available you want to play them and there are a few we can’t.
“We have a total of 14 boys unavailable to us at the moment and some would have played in this fixture.”