The road Warriors return home for historic 1872 Cup opener
Glasgow will host Edinburgh at Scotstoun Stadium in the first leg of world rugby’s oldest intercity rivalry.
The two sides played their inagural game at Burbank Park, Glasgow, on 23 November 1872.
The Christmas double header presents a mouth-watering opportunity for both sides to pick up vital points in the BKT United Rugby Championship. Edinburgh sit sixth but Glasgow, three points behind, have a chance to leapfrog their rivals if they win.
Glasgow will run out and look to celebrate a triumphant homecoming following a succesfull three game road trip. They thrashed Zebre and recorded victories in both of their Challenge Cup fixtures, away to Bath and against Perpignan at BT Murrayfield.
Club captain, Kyle Steyn returns to the starting XV in place of Rufus McLean and is one of five changes head coach Franco Smith has made to his team.
There is only one change to the wider 23 man squad. Scotland hooker, Fraser Brown adds experience to the front row. He is joined by fellow internationals, James Bhatti and Murphy Walker, the latter making his senior debut against Fiji in the Autumn.
The current holders, Edinburgh, bounced back from defeat at Saracens as they beat Castres at the DAM Health Stadium last week to secure all five points in their second Champions Cup pool fixture.
However, Mike Blair’s side escaped from their French skirmish battered and bruised. Club centurion, Stuart McInally left the game with concussion and Scotland fly half, Blair Kinghorn was replaced following a back spasm.
Blair will therefore award Tom Cruse his first start in the front row. The hooker may as well have started last week, having played 78 minutes in place of McInally.
One of last week’s try scorers, Charlie Savala, will start at 10 as Kinghorn continues his recovery.
There is good news for tomorrow’s visitors. Scotland star, Duhan van der Merwe returns to his wing after withdrawing prior to kick off against Castres. Van der Merwe will play his first 1872 Cup in two years after Worcester Warriors collapsed and he re-joined the capital’s ranks.
Both packs are set for a battle in the trenches. Smith has opted for a 6/2 split on his bench with the likes of George Turner and Simon Berghan set to provide reinforcements in the second half.
Edinburgh’s scrum is full of players who bring a wealth of experience. There are 692 club caps in the starting pack, including co-captain, Grant Gilchrest’s 182.
Scotstoun stadium will be sold out for the first time this season as Glasgow look to chip away at Edinburgh’s overall lead in the derby. Edinburgh have taken the bragging rights on 70 occasions to Glasgow’s 52. There have been 15 draws in the 150 years of the rivalry.
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