WE’VE GOT TO GET THIS RIGHT:

RUGBY SPECIAL SRU chiefs embrace role of trailblazers for limited return of fans

NOTHING at stake? As dead rubbers go, tonight’s clash between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at BT Murrayfield might just be the most important we’ve ever seen.

In Pro14 terms, the capital side have already secured their home play-off semi-final with Ulster after last weekend’s derby victory.

But this return fixture has taken on far greater significance for what is happening off the pitch. How else to describe it but the pathway back to normality for sport in Scotland?

The Scottish Government have given the green light for 700 supporters to attend as a tester for welcoming fans back to stadiums for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in March — and SRU chief executive Mark Dodson insists Scottish Rugby are ready to ‘embrace’ the responsibility of being a trailblazer for other sports. Desperate to ensure they get things right, Dodson said: ‘It’s a big night for us and Scottish Rugby are pleased to be trusted with this opportunity.

‘We’re clearly aware of our responsibilities but we embrace this opportunity, not just for rugby, but for sport in general.

‘It’s been a long process. We’ve been working with government as we’ve found a way through this really, really difficult problem.

‘We’ve got great sympathy with their position and we’ve been very supportive of their plans. We’ve been communicating with them on a regular basis and we’ve been in lockstep with the way they’ve approached the problem.

‘It’s about safety, it’s about fans’ safety. This is a societal problem and we’re trying to see if we can safely bring people back into sports events, and hospitality events, in general. And we don’t want to rush that. Certainly, we’re not playing politics or taking a political stance on this. This is about the safety of our fans and about reintroducing sport back to the fans, but in a safe way.

‘The larger question is not about the SRU’s finances, this is about how do we get people back into sport, generally, but hospitality overall. That’s what will be uppermost in our thoughts on Friday, just how do we get that?

‘Everything else that comes from that will be a consequence of getting this first pilot away.’

Dodson admits the ultimate goal is for the crowd limit to be increased and for thousands to get back to games in future weeks and months. But he insists the SRU are happy to go slowly for now. He told BBC Radio Scotland’s

Rugby Podcast: ‘We’ve got to look at this particular pilot and then look at the outcomes and learnings from this, and share them with other sports. And then it will be a government decision as to what we can do next, and they’ll want to analyse how this particular fixture has gone.’

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill hoped all sports would benefit from the pilot project.

‘We’re trying to get fans in and making sure it is safe for them,’ he said. ‘It’s important this is a good pilot for Scottish sport. We’re glad to get a small crowd in. We hopefully can build on that and that is a positive for everybody.’

The 700 supporters will be restricted to Edinburgh seasonticket holders to avoid Glasgow fans travelling but Warriors head coach Danny Wilson is more than willing to accept that scenario for the greater good. He said: ‘It is going to be interesting, another unknown.’

As for the game itself, Cockerill has made ten changes from last weekend. Most notably handing a first professional start to Nathan Chamberlain and describing it as a ‘free hit’ for the 20-year-old fly-half.

Cockerill, who brought the youngster to Edinburgh from the Bristol Bears Academy in the summer, said: ‘There will be parts where he copes well and parts where he’s not so good. But that’s young guys learning the game. It’s the perfect game for him to come in and see what he’s made of.’

Glasgow counterpart Wilson already has one eye on next season and wants to further evaluate the players he inherited from Dave Rennie rather than make sweeping changes tonight.

The only change in the Glasgow pack sees Tom Gordon promoted from the bench to start at openside. Matt Fagerson shifts across from seven to No8, with Ryan Wilson on the blindside.

George Horne takes over from Ali Price at scrum-half while Stafford McDowall replaces Peter Horne at inside centre.