Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors go into 1872 Cup second leg with contrasting philosophies

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Thursday, 29 December 2022 08:31

Edinburgh entertain Glasgow Warriors in the second leg of the 1872 Cup with the respective head coaches voicing widely contrasting views on the need to win.

Mike Blair wants his Edinburgh side "to add an extra 5%" to turn games like last week's 16-10 first-leg loss into victories and league points.

Franco Smith says the main objective for Glasgow is "to play better" and "if that leads to victory, fantastic".

The two sides are level on points in the United Rugby Championship.

Despite that, sixth-placed Glasgow are four spots above Friday's hosts because of points difference, which shows how tight the league has become.

Smith is viewing it as "not just a derby game", with the winner on aggregate lifting the inter-city cup, but another chance to play "with an intent and intensity that's required away from home".

He believes that four victories in succession - two on the road - since a battering away to runaway leaders Leinster shows "there's a lot of lessons learned" since he took charge in August as he looks to introduce a greater intensity and bravery with ball in hand to his squad.

"We know that most teams that lose away from home it's not because they are poor, but because the team at home play at 120% of their ability because of the home support behind them," Smith tells BBC Scotland.

"We need to learn to take energy and enthusiasm and creativity on the road and not get intimidated by the surroundings."

While Blair has made seven changes from the side that lost at Scotstoun, Smith has made just two - purely out of a desire to rotate his squad.

Ali Price comes in for George Horn at scrum-half, with Ollie Smith handed his chance at full-back as Josh McKay is given a rest.

Boffelli deal & players of 'excellent pedigree' boost Edinburgh

Blair, meanwhile, is not only pleased to announce a new two-year contract for 27-year-old Argentina international Emiliano Boffelli, who will switch from wing to full-back against Glasgow, but to be able to bring back several experienced campaigners.

"I believe that we were able to put out a team capable of winning the game last week, but it is also nice to have a few familiar faces coming back in who have got excellent pedigree for us and a higher honour," he says.

Scotland quartet Blair Kinghorn, Mark Bennett, Sam Skinner and Luke Crosbie return along with fit-again wing Wes Goosen, scrum half Henry Pyrgos and prop Boan Venter, while Blair also makes several positional changes in a bid to claw back the aggregate score.

"We have been in pretty much every game we have played," he adds.

"You see from the bonus point situation, we are picking them up in our losses most of the time, which means it is a good contest.

"But we are also aware with the quality of players that we have, we need to be getting these games over the line."

Read 174 times

Soccer

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli fans and club officials paid tribute to Diego Maradona on th...

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo netted a pair of goals in Al Nassr's Asian Champi...

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDavid Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forwar...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant was in the lineup Monday night for the...

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday...

Baseball

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Robinson Chirinos replaced Fredi González on Monday as...

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involvi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated