Edinburgh star eyes final fling
EDInBUrGH centurion tom Brown has called on his team-mates to sign off their time at Murrayfield in style by claiming the bragging rights in Boxing Day’s derby.
Brown can’t think of a better way to bring the curtain down on their 12-year stay at the national stadium than by chalking up a fourth Guinness Pro12 win in a row over their rivals in what will be his 100th appearance for his hometown club.
‘We have our last game out at Murrayfield on Boxing Day and then we are off to Myreside in January, so we are desperate to put in a huge performance and win in front of a big home crowd,’ said Brown.
‘I am honoured to be playing my 100th game for Edinburgh. I have loved my time here and it is great to reach three figures in such a big match.
‘I am really looking to moving to our new home but it will be fantastic if we can sign off our time at Murrayfield with a win over Glasgow as that result will always be remembered as it will be our last game there.
‘Edinburgh have been crying out for a long time for our own place to help give us our own identity. Murrayfield has been great for us and is a lovely park to play on but you look at some of the places we play away at like Scotstoun, over in Galway against Connacht and down at rodney Parade against newport Gwent Dragons.
‘these grounds have their own identity and are tough places to play and we want to create that atmosphere at Myreside so we can make it a fortress when we move there in January.
‘to go there knowing we won our final game at Murrayfield will give us all a lift and leave us with good memories.’
the Edinburgh winger, who played his first game for the club against Leinster at Murrayfield six years ago, believes the best way to beat Glasgow is to ‘front them up’ from the first whistle.
With Edinburgh arguably boasting the more physical back row of the two teams — made up of Magnus Bradbury, Cornell Du Preez and Hamish Watson — he expects some tough early tackling from his team-mates.
‘We beat them twice last year and on both occasions we fronted them up which was the key to our victories,’ said the 26-year-old. ‘We know Glasgow like to play in lots of space but we shut them down and did not give them any room the last two times we played them.
‘We must to look to replicate that on Monday to give us a chance of victory.
‘We know it won’t be easy as we are playing against a Glasgow team that have won back-to-back games against racing 92, who were in the final of the European Cup last year.
‘Yet Glasgow beat them home and away, which is great for them and Scottish rugby. they will be hyped up after that success, which adds to our challenge.’
Edinburgh youngster Bradbury will be eager to impress Scotland head coach Vern Cotter as he goes into battle with international second rows rob Harley and Jonny Gray. Bradbury, who made his Scotland debut in the win over argentina last month, signed a three-year contract extension earlier this week and is considered one of the rising stars of Scottish rugby.
‘Being given a deal of that length allows me to concentrate totally on improving my rugby at Edinburgh,’ said the son of SrU vice president Dee Bradbury. ‘It’s also great to have the opportunity to continue playing my rugby in Scotland as I look to build on my one cap and now, for me, it’s about getting as many caps as I possibly can.
‘I am really looking forward to playing in my first derby game as I know there is a lot riding on the outcome.
‘there is the crucial league points up for grabs for both teams, the bragging rights and a win is a step towards winning the 1872 Cup. the game is also a good selection pointer for Vern Cotter.
‘that all adds to the pressure and the excitement and as a back-row player I know how tough the challenge ahead will be to help us get a foot-hold in the game.
‘Josh Strauss is a ball carrier while rob Harley and Simone Favaro are physical all over the pitch, whether it is in defence, over the ball or whatever. I expect there will be times when we need to stick the ball up the jersey to get go-forward and we know their back row players well and what to expect.’
Meanwhile, Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn has signed a contract extension that keeps him at the club until May 2019.