DAVID SOLE

Rugby returns to Scotland on Saturday as the PRO14 starts to complete its Covid-19 interrupted season.

Edinburgh take on Glasgow in the first of two inter-city derbies at Murrayfield as they bid to reach the semi-final of the competition.

The games will take place behind closed doors, in an environment that will be even more eerie than normal for the players.

There is little worse than playing in a huge stadium with no atmosphere. But for fans of the game, it is better than nothing at all.

At least the games will be broadcast live, albeit on a “pay-to-view” channel.

One victory will guarantee Edinburgh a place in the semi-finals, but they will be hungry to ensure that they secure that semi-final at home.

To do so, they need to win both games.

Glasgow, on the other hand, will be eager to impress their new coach and, as ever with a derby match, there is always that bit of extra needle to add some spice to the contest.

That’s something the partisan spectators would have loved, had they been allowed through the doors.

While both sets of players may well have welcomed the enforced break that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, they are likely to be rather “rusty” without any game time under their belts.

‘ It would be unrealistic to expect a match brimming with quality

A four-month break from competitive rugby will have been more than many have ever experienced, perhaps since their school days.

No matter how much work and contact you have on the training pitches, there is nothing better than game-time to get rid of rustiness.

So it would be unrealistic to expect a match brimming with quality rugby, given the circumstances.

The game itself could end up being won by the team that makes fewer unforced errors, and whose defence is hungrier and fitter for the full 80 minutes.

With that in mind, the battle between the two packs becomes even more crucial.

Edinburgh have the pedigree in the back row. But if the Glasgow tight-five can gain an edge, that may nullify the threat of Messrs Watson, Ritchie and Mata.

And both teams have “game breakers” in their backs, such as Darcy Graham and Huw Jones.

On form, these players are capable of flashes of individual brilliance that can win games on their own.

Given the likelihood that there will probably be a higher number of mistakes than normal, the team that can capitalise on these errors may well end up being the winner.

The return of rugby is a great step forward, however, and a strong signal that even though the games are being played without spectators, some degree of normality is returning to life once more.

That, in itself, is something to be extremely grateful for.