Edinburgh face-off carrying plenty of meaning for Wilson
THE gap between them over the past decade has been so vast you could drive a motorway’s worth of trucks through it.
Yet, this season, Edinburgh’s renaissance appears to be adding a little more edge to their relationship with near neighbours Glasgow Warriors. A rivalry has been reborn.
On Saturday night, it will be Dave Rennie’s side who will travel along the M8 for a visit to Murrayfield that, on paper at least, looks to mean more to their hosts than the team from Scotstoun.
The Warriors have already secured a Pro14 home semi-final, their position at the top of Conference A now unassailable. Edinburgh, however, must take at least a losing bonus point if they are to join their rivals in the play-offs.
Glasgow are no strangers to the business end of the season, of course, having made the play-offs six times over the past eight campaigns, including a historic first title in 2015.
During that same period, the best Edinburgh could muster was a sixth-place finish.
Now, Richard Cockerill’s side sit third in Conference B. A favourable result against Warriors in what also doubles as the third and final leg of the 1872 Cup would see them over the line.
While the presence of both Scottish pro outfits in the knockout stage of the tournament would be a boost to the national game, Edinburgh can expect no favours from Warriors.
Skipper Ryan Wilson, who yesterday signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2020, made that much clear.
There has been little love lost between the sides this campaign, with both coaches having alluded to it without it becoming close to a verbal spat.
Glasgow’s previous success and Edinburgh’s desire to no longer be considered the poor relation, especially notable since Cockerill’s arrival last summer, means no quarter will be asked or given this weekend.
‘Do I want to play against Edinburgh?’ said Wilson yesterday, looking astonished and even laughing at the mere suggestion he might have wanted to give the game a bodyswerve.
‘Of course I do. We may have qualified for the play-offs but it’s not a meaningless game.
‘In fact, I couldn’t think of a better game to get us ready for a semi-final than playing against Edinburgh.
‘We didn’t do too well in Ulster at the weekend, so it’s a big test and that’s probably the best thing for us at the moment.
‘And, on a personal note, I need some rugby under my belt before going into semi-finals. I’m here to play for Glasgow and, if fit and ready, I’ll get out on the park in those games.’
Glasgow, of course, failed to do Edinburgh any favours at the weekend as they lost 36-15 to Ulster — the side currently just four points behind them and their rivals for the final play-off spot.
Wilson missed that match through a chest injury, but he revealed some players would get an arm put around them after the defeat — while others would need a good talking-to after their below-par performances.
‘A bit of both is needed as we are all accountable,’ said the Scotland back-row. ‘There needs to be some learning from that game with some people getting a good kick up the a*** following it, as they say.
‘A big thing we talk about at Glasgow is accountability, making sure everyone’s accountable from the leaders all the way down to the academy boys.
‘I get on with my team-mates and relate to most of them, but there is also a part of me where, when out on the pitch, I am happy to call people out. That is the way I like to try and lead. There is no better game than the 1872 Cup this weekend to sort things out.’
With Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend set to be in attendance with a view to picking his squad for the summer tour to the USA, Canada and Argentina in June, there is no shortage of motivation for those involved.
While Wilson is well aware of that, he insists the focus must be on winning the game as a team rather than simply personal battles being won to impress the national boss.
‘I think we’ll try and stay away from talk of those personal battles,’ he continued.
‘Sometimes, the summer tour chat gets brought up but we can’t allow that to happen.
‘We had a slip up last week against Ulster but we’ve got to get back on the road and do that this weekend by concentrating on ourselves.’
Rennie, meanwhile, was playing his cards close to his chest as to whether his influential captain as well as second-row Jonny Gray, who has a shoulder injury, will start against Edinburgh. Gray has been missing since the match against Connacht a fortnight ago while Wilson picked up a heavy knock on the chest against Scarlets the week before, which has kept him out ever since. ‘We’d like to play them but they’ve got to complete fitness tests,’ said Rennie. ‘This game means a lot to them. There’s obviously a great rivalry between us and Edinburgh, there’s a trophy at stake and both Ryan and Jonny are keen to get the jersey back on. ‘As for Ryan, it is great he has signed a contract extension. He’s a good man.’