Darcy’s itching to get at thewarriors
Darcy Graham can’t wait for Saturday evening.
Edinburgh take on Glasgow at BT Murrayfield in their first game since rugby’s shutdown due to Covid-19.
But the break has been even longer for the free-scoring wing, who missed the entire Six Nations after being ruled out for the first two games with a training-ground injury, only to aggravate his knee – again in training – on his recall to the squad.
“I’m raring to go,” said the 23- year- old. “My last game was Agen at home in January.
“It’s been a few months since I last played rugby, so I’m excited to get back.
“It’s been a frustrating time and it has always been silly injuries.
“I don’t mind getting injured in a game when I have put my body on the line.
“But if it is a freak accident, when I slip, or someone puts their knee into the front of my knee and that is me out for ages, then it is tougher to take.
“It started to get to me a bit, and it was pretty tough. I was just hitting my form going into the Six Nations and felt I was in a good place.
“My body was feeling good and I had my head into going out there, trying to push for a starting spot.
“To get injured before the first game was gutting. To miss the whole thing was heartbreaking.
“I am so passionate. I’m a Hawick boy, and all I ever wanted to do was play for Hawick and Scotland.
“To have the latter pulled away from me for a spell was difficult.
“But my dad is always saying to me that rugby has so many highs and lows, you have to enjoy the highs when they are there, because there will always be a low down the road.
“I find it very difficult to watch rugby when I’m injured, especially Scotland games. That Six Nations opener was really hard to watch.
“I got a week off to get my head round it and chill out. It was then a case of getting back in, climbing back on the horse and trying to get fit.”
Asked if his Test team- mates rallied round, Graham said: “Definitely. It is never nice seeing someone having to leave camp when they are injured. I think of Hamishwatson and Ali Price at the World Cup.
“They are your team-mates and best pals. It isn’t nice seeing them missing out on the chance to play for their country.
“I got a lot longer than I expected to come back to full fitness. Selfishly, lockdown came at a good time for me.
“It’s feeling great now. I’m flying in training and I was probably ready to play two weeks ago. I’m very keen to get back now.”
One win from the back-to-back derbies will see Edinburgh book a PRO14 semi-final, two would see that played at home.
But Graham insisted: “We’re not into the semis yet. This first
Glasgow game is a must- win, do-or-die. So it’s putting a bit of pressure on us.
“Glasgow are a really good team. They’re solid, strong and they’ve got great attacking threats. We need to be defensively sorted and be ready for them.
“We’ve been doing contact pretty much every day. That’s been bone on bone or on the bags, just trying to harden us up and get us ready for what’s coming on Saturday.”
■ Lasswade’s Ian Barr was yesterday confirmed as Scottish Rugby’s 128th President at the Union’s online AGM. Colin Rigby (Stewart’s-melville) was elected as Vice President.
■ Former Calcutta Cup-winning Scotland captain John Barclay has announced his retirement from the sport following a 16-year career in pro rugby.