The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Edinburgh and Glasgow feel bullish
Richard Cockerill has told Edinburgh to do “whatever it takes” to claim victory at home to Cardiff tonight.
The capital side holds a three-point lead at the top of the Pro14’s Conference B and head coach Cockerill wants to avoid a slip-up when the Blues travel north.
He said: “We need to make sure we’re on it. We should be well motivated since we’re on a good run, but we need to make sure we get all the basic things right.
“The weather will be a little bit better than the last two weeks, but we need to be really functional and practical in how we play. We just need to go and win the game – do whatever it takes to win.
“I’m not fussy about our style. Substance, physicality and mentality should be 10 out of 10 for us and we should go out with confidence to make sure we get our performance right.”
An unchanged back three sees Damien Hoyland continue at full-back with wingers Duhan Van Der Merwe – a try-scorer in his last five consecutive fixtures – and Eroni Sau once again named on the flanks.
Meanwhile, Glasgow coach Dave Rennie has promised Leo Cullen there will be trouble brewing for his Leinster side at the RDS tonight.
Warriors head to Dublin on the back of a five-game unbeaten run and Rennie is backing his team to shock a side who have a perfect record of 12 Pro14 wins so far this season.
Rennie – who has welcomed five players back from Scotland duty – said: “We’ve got a lot of experience in the side with eight centurions in the 23. That level of experience, combining with our young guys is good for the club.
“We’ve got a game that can trouble anyone – it was a great game over there last year, and we know we’ll have to be at our best to get the better of them in Dublin.”
Warriors welcome back tight-head prop D’arcy Rae for the trip across the Irish Sea, with the Scotland international set to make his first appearance for the club since the two sides met at Scotstoun at the end of November.