Cockerill has eye on a No 9 from Glasgow
EDINBURGH head coach Richard Cockerill has opened discussions to bring one of Glasgow Warriors’ three Scottish scrum-halves to the capital club for next season. Although Cockerill is playing his hand close to his chest, he has confirmed that his eye is on either Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos or George Horne. Glasgow also have Niko Matawalu but the versatile Fijian is not on Edinburgh’s radar. Sportsmail understands he is a big fan of Pyrgos, who has captained both Glasgow and Scotland in the past, and he would be his first choice for a move along the M8. With Sam Hidalgo-Clyne moving to Scarlets in the summer, Cockerill wants to replace him with a quality No 9. The argument he has put to Warriors head coach Dave Rennie is that he can’t play all three, so one will get frustrated over his lack of game time next season. He also argues, with the 2019 World Cup looming, it is better for the national team that Scotland’s top scrum-halves are playing regularly. ‘Purely from a national point of view, it would make sense,’ said Cockerill. ‘There is no point having three national nines in one team. However, those are discussions that are in process. ‘Whether anything comes of that, we will see. ‘It is a sensible thing to do because only two are going to play each week for Glasgow and one won’t be getting any game time. ‘Horne and Price are still very young and Pyrgos is turning 29 and there is a World Cup coming up. They are all very good players.’ Cockerill sent hooker George Turner to Glasgow earlier this season for the very same reason. ‘There was no point having Ross Ford, Stuart McInally and George Turner all at Edinburgh as we were having a difficult conversation every time Tuesday morning came around over selection,’ said the Edinburgh head coach. ‘The reality is that somebody has to take the bull by the horns and be our first-choice nine. We need quality in that position if we are going to compete in the Pro14 and in Europe. We are bringing in Charlie Shiel next season, who is a good player. ‘Sean Kennedy and Nathan Fowles are of a quality but the reality is we probably need more quality at nine — regardless of whether Sam had stayed or not. ‘We can all see we need that. It is no secret. If there is a Scotsman that can take that role then fine. If not, we will go and find a nine. Hopefully, one that can improve us. Simple as that.’ Cockerill said he had no qualms about playing Hidalgo-Clyne in their Pro14 quarter-final play-off against Munster in Limerick on Saturday after the player revealed he would be leaving at the end of the season and heading to Scarlets. ‘I have got no stress about playing him,’ said Cockerill. ‘He will play and I am sure he will play well. ‘Do I regret losing him? Look, it’s professional sport. People come and go. We wish Sam the best of luck. He is going to a good side. ‘In many ways, it will be good for him to go and mature and grow up a little bit outside of this environment.’