GET READY FOR THRILLS & SPILLS
GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH PRIMED FOR ACTION AS BRAND NEW UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND
The new-look United Rugby Championship kicks off later this week. So how will the two Scottish clubs in this year’s competition perform and what effect will the introduction of the four South African clubs have?
Here, Sportsmail’s rugby correspondent Rob Robertson looks ahead to the big kick-off.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE THE LEAGUE RETURNING?
The SRU had been concerned that fans may have drifted away from the sport during the pandemic and it would be hard to win them back. A good start for both edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors will renew interest and hopefully supporters will enjoy once again being allowed in to watch big matches.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW WARRIORS IN TERMS OF THE STYLE OF RUGBY THEY WILL PLAY?
Edinburgh, under new coach Mike Blair, have a renewed energy about them and he has made clear he wants to play an attacking game. That will be good news for fans of the club who endured some dour forward-based play under previous head coach Richard Cockerill.
Glasgow, under Danny Wilson, look solid rather than spectacular. They won’t be throwing the ball wide as much as edinburgh and have fewer flair players, with the likes of Niko Matawalu leaving the club. They will be more pragmatic in their approach.
WHO ARE THE SCOTTISH PLAYERS AT EITHER CLUB THAT CAN MAKE A BREAKTHROUGH?
There are more established players at Glasgow rather than edinburgh, which makes it harder for them to make a breakthrough at Scotstoun. Look out for flanker Rory Darge, who has the talent to make the seven jersey his own. The 21-year-old from North Berwick moved from edinburgh to Glasgow in June and will be desperate to show his former club they made a mistake in letting him go.
Edinburgh have the likes of No 8 Ben Muncaster — another young man from North Berwick — as well as second-row Jamie hodgson, who only signed his first professional contract back in January. Both have the potential to have breakthrough seasons.
BEST SIGNING FOR EDINBURGH?
Scotland international James Lang was brought to the club from harlequins by former head coach Cockerill before he left to join the england set-up under eddie Jones. At 26, he has six Scotland caps and lots of experience from his time in the english Premiership.
He will start at centre but his ability to also play fly-half makes him a versatile player for the capital club.
BIGGEST LOSS FOR EDINBURGH?
Worcester Warriors have taken British and Irish Lions winger Duhan van der Merwe and prop Rory Sutherland and both will be badly missed. Van der Merwe had a superb try-scoring record at edinburgh and was always tough to stop.
Sutherland deserved his place in the Lions squad after some top-class displays for his club and country.
BEST SIGNING FOR GLASGOW?
The most excitement should be around New Zealand speed merchant Josh McKay. Glasgow have struggled at full-back since Stuart hogg left and the Kiwi can be the man to make the jersey his own. Still just 23, he came to prominence in 2017 as part of the New Zealand U20 side that won the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia. he scored two tries in the competition and played in the 64-17 win over england in the final. he will miss the first few games as he is still playing in New Zealand but when he arrives later in the year, he’ll be one to watch.
BIGGEST LOSS FOR GLASGOW?
Fly-half Adam hastings leaving to join Gloucester and huw Jones, who could play full-back or centre, moving to harlequins. Glasgow have three No 10s at the club — Duncan Weir, Ross Thompson and Domingo Miotti — but Wilson has yet to decide who will be his first choice for the big matches.
Jones may never have hit the heights expected of him at Glasgow but he was versatile and an exciting player to watch.
HOW POSITIVE AN EFFECT WILL IT BE HAVING THE FANS BACK FOR GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH PLAYERS?
Massive, especially for the edinburgh ones who now have their own custom-built stadium that holds over 7,000. Before the pandemic, they had to play in front of 5,000 crowds in Murrayfield — which holds over 67,000. The edinburgh players can really start to feed off the home fans from this season. They won’t fill it straight away but a few good results and, with a bit of luck, the sold-out signs will be going up.
Glasgow fans are renowned for the support they give their team and that will make a difference to them at home.
HOW BIG A BLOW IS IT TO GLASGOW WARRIORS TO HAVE JUST ONE FRIDAY NIGHT HOME FIXTURE?
Glasgow built their fanbase around playing under the Friday night lights. Their supporters are not happy that their games have been switched to Saturday afternoon and many have said they will now go and watch their local amateur club instead.
The players seem happy enough with the change with Glasgow co-captain Fraser Brown preferring to play on Saturday afternoons and he believes the switch will allow more young fans and families to be able to attend. The vast majority of Glasgow games on Friday evenings were 7,281 sell-outs but it is no guarantee that they will reach capacity for their Saturday afternoon ones.
WILL GLASGOW COACH WILSON BE UNDER PRESSURE IF HIS SIDE GET OFF TO A BAD START?
Yes, he will. he has yet to win over the Glasgow fans who felt he was moved sideways to take over at Scotstoun when he left his previous job as a Scotland assistant under Gregor Townsend. There is no doubting that he is a top-class coach but his team did finish four out of six in their Pro14 Conference table last season, which wasn’t good enough. Glasgow play Ulster away then have the South African franchises, the Sharks and Lions, at home which is a tough start.
IS IT A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE TO HAVE THE FOUR SOUTH AFRICAN SIDES JOIN THE LEAGUE?
A huge positive. The Pro14 needed a revamp and the Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Stormers will give it that. Their participation will add even more physicality to the league and the fans will be excited to see them take part.
WHICH OF THEM IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE?
The Bulls. They lost to Benetton in the final of the Rainbow Cup back in June and have the World Cup-winning South African coach Jake White in charge.
WHERE WILL GLASGOW WARRIORS FINISH IN THE LEAGUE AND WHY?
They will be among the eight teams that make the play-offs but will struggle to get any further than their first quarter-final game as they don’t have enough bite in their back division.
WHERE WILL EDINBURGH FINISH IN THE LEAGUE AND WHY?
They will also make the play-offs and have a more attacking team than Glasgow that could take them into the last four.
WHICH TEAM WILL WIN THE LEAGUE?
It is hard to see past Leinster. They are an ageing team and Johnny Sexton is past his best but they won the Pro14 title last season and even the Bulls will struggle to stop them.