1872cupAfter a few weeks of Heineken Cup rugby  this weekend seems the return to action in the major leagues in the form of the Aviva Premiership and the Rabbo Direct Pro12 as well as the French Top 14. Of particular interest in Scotland is the big derby match between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh on Friday night in Glasgow.

This match will also double up as the first fixture of two between the two teams which will decide the winner of the 1872 Cup. The return match will take place at Murrayfield on Saturday 29th December.

Brief History of 1872 Cup

The first ever inter-district match between the then Edinburgh district and Glasgow took place back in 1872. Edinburgh won the match 3–0. It is said to be rugby’s oldest non-international representative match.

Glasgow are the current holders of the cup by virtue of a drawn first game at Murrayfield on Boxing day last year and victory in the return fixture at their old Firhill ground on New Year’s day.

Glasgow Warriors Team Announcement

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Talismanic skipper Al Kellock returns to the Glasgow Warriors starting line-up for the 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh.  Kellock, who suffered an arm injury against Castres Olympique at Scotstoun Stadium two weeks ago, has recovered in time for the big city derby.

After impressing in the Heineken Cup last week, Ruaridh Jackson and Niko Matawalu resume their half-back partnership with Peter Horne and Sean Lamont again the centre pairing for the vital RaboDirect PRO12 encounter.

There is just one personnel change in the back-line which faced Castres Olympique in the Heineken Cup last Sunday, with Peter Murchie taking the full-back position and Sean Maitland moving to the wing.  Tommy Seymour, who signed a new contract with the Warriors this week, drops out of the squad with Stuart Hogg covering the back-line from the substitutes bench.

Jonny Gray, younger brother of Scotland star, Richie, is in line to make his senior professional debut after being named on the bench for the match this Friday.

The Scotland under-20 cap has impressed the coaching staff at Glasgow since signing as an Elite Development Player in the summer and will be on the bench to cover the second row in the RaboDirect PRO12 match at Scotstoun Stadium (21 December, kick-off 7.35pm)

Head Coach Gregor Townsend, who was announcing his team in George Square, the heart of Glasgow, commented:  “I was very pleased with way we attacked Castres for long spells of the game last week, the players showed ambition, pace and intensity.

“If we’re to win this game on Friday we need to have a similar level of performance. We’re preparing for a very tough contest against one of the best attacking teams in the PRO12.

“They can put out a very strong pack with a number of different ways of playing so we need to be absolutely on top of our game.

“It’s a massive occasion for Scottish Rugby and there’s a lot at stake for both teams.  I expect a lot of intensity on both sides and with the 6 Nations not too far away, there is no doubt added motivation around selection for the national team.

“For us, the focus has to be on our position in the PRO12 and over the course of the next two games there are points which can propel us back towards the play-off places.”

The pack shows four changes to the one that faced Castres, with Chris Fusaro returning to the open-side spot in place of the injured John Barclay.  Rob Harley starts alongside Ryan Wilson in the back-row.

Moray Low again plays tight-head with Ryan Grant reinstated to the loose-head role with Pat MacArthur as hooker.

There is strength and depth on the bench for Glasgow with no fewer than five full Scotland internationals ready to enter the cauldron of the city derby.

Townsend said: “To be able to bring on players of the ability of the guys on the bench says a lot about the strength of our squad.  

“There are a lot of players in the squad who will be disappointed not to be involved but the competition for places is fierce and, unfortunately, some have to miss out.

“We’re expecting a tight match – recent history will tell us that these games are always pretty close – so everyone in the twenty three will have to be ready to make an impact.”

Team

Glasgow: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Tim Swinson, 4 Al Kellock (Captain), 3 Moray Low, 2 Pat Macarthur, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 German Araoz, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 James Eddie, 21 Henry Prygos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Stuart Hogg.

Edinburgh Team Announcement

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Head coach Michael Bradley today confirmed the Edinburgh Rugby team to face Glasgow Warriors in the opening leg of the 1872 Cup at Scotstoun tomorrow (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on BBC ALBA.

Scotland centre Nick De Luca has not recovered from the injury sustained to his face in training on Tuesday, meaning James King partners Matt Scott in midfield, while Lee Jones (wing) has recovered from his head knock and has been passed fit to play.

The news brings confirmation that the half-back partnership of captain Greig Laidlaw and Piers Francis that finished the club’s Heineken Cup loss against Racing Metro in Paris, will start the match against their inter-city rivals.

Bradley said: “It’s disappointing to lose a key player like Nick [De Luca] for such a big game, but James [King] has performed very well when given the opportunity this season and is desperate to get out there tomorrow.

“These are huge games for the players and the fans and I’m happy with the balance of the team and the firepower available from the bench going to Scotstoun tomorrow for what will be a hugely physical and intense match with our biggest rivals.”

The back-line is completed by ever-present full-back Greig Tonks and returning winger Tim Visser, who is one score short of equaling the all-time PRO12 record (48) in what will be his 65th appearance for the club in the competition.

Allan Jacobsen and Willem Nel are preferred to John Yapp and Geoff Cross alongside hooker Ross Ford in the front-row, while Heineken Cup tied lock Izak van der Westhuizen returns to partner Grant Gilchrist.

The pack is completed by the back-row of Roddy Grant, Stuart McInally and the returning blind-side flanker David Denton.

The 1872 Cup will be decided in the second leg at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday 29 December (kick-off 4.05pm)

Team

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Lee Jones, 13 James King, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Greig Laidlaw (Captain), 8 Stuart McInally, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 David Denton, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 John Yapp, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ben Atiga, 23 Dougie Fife.

90 Responses to RaboDirect Pro12: Round one of the ‘Big Scottish Derby’ – 1872 Cup

  • 61

    Duncar Weir and Henry Pyrgos on for Jackson and Matawalu – 61st minute

  • 62

    Kellock carrying it up strongly, he has had a good game

  • 63

    Bravely taken in the air by Maitland but he knocks it on

  • 64

    mmm Visser is maybe lucky looks like he took Maitland out while Maitland was in the air which lead to the knock on

  • 65

    Penalty to Glasgow at scrum

  • 66

    Weir kicks for touch

  • 67

    Dougie Hall on for Glasgow at hooker 64th minute

  • 68

    Nice kick for touch by Weir for Glasgow but they get a penalty and come back for that right in front and Weir gets it over, Gla 20 – 11 Edin 66 min

  • 69

    Nicely taken by Visser as he is unmarked at the kick off

  • 70

    Penalty to Edinburgh, Glasgow not rolling away, Laidlaw indicates he is going for goal

  • 71

    And Laidlaw gets a long straight on over! Gla 20 – 14 Edin 69th minute – game on!

  • 72

    Pyrgos varying his play nicely with a good high kick that is knocked on by Edinburgh and hands back possesion to Glasgow but they kick deep and its marked in Edinburgh 22, but the ref is talking to Yapp for a high tackle on Hogg, was high but didn’t look like much malice in that

  • 73

    Duncan Weir gets it over from bit of an angle : Gla 23 – 14 Edi – 72nd minute

  • 74

    Oh no Glasgow knock on just before the try line after lovely break down the touchline by Weir and then good kick through, no try vd Merwe knock on maybe, but Laidlaw gets to it first anyway to dot it down

  • 75

    Glasgow attacking lineout close to tryline

  • 76

    Kellock driving it up, now its Harley and there is a scuffle as ref blows up for a Glasgow penalty

  • 77

    Titterral getting medical attention and Denton looks to have been involved in scuffle is being spoken to along with Moray Low, again the ref is just saying calm down – Ryan Grant is lucky as he grabs Dentons face after the whistle and then looks to be striking back after Denton pushes out at him

  • 78

    Scrum taken and it collapses now Edinburgh gets the penalty

  • 79

    Al Kellock is named man of match by presenter, with mention of DTH vd Merwe as well

  • 80

    In the last minute of the game, Yapp from Edinburgh getting treatment, now being taken off the field and is replaced by Hislop

  • 81

    Yapp is limping looks like something with his left leg, anyway play restarted with Edinburgh lineout

  • 82

    Game over final score, Glasgow 23 – 14 Edinburgh, 3 tries to 1

  • 83

    Results from elsewhere in Pro12, Cardiff Blues 6 – 9 Scarlets; Ulster 27 – 19 Leinster – 1 penalty and 3 conversions for Pienaar.

  • 84

    Good work Bullscot,

    Even though I never got to see the game, could follow how the game went here with your commentary. So I picked the right team to support it seems…… 🙂 Well done to Glasgow Warriors.

  • 85

    Good Morning Stormersboy, see you logged on up there.

  • 86

    1 – 83 @ Bullscot:
    Sterling work my friend!

    Even though nobody came and chatted with you, the stats show that there were a lot of visitors on the thread whilst you were chatting away and informing everybody what was happening!

  • 87

    86 @ grootblousmile:
    Morning boeta,

    Can I suggest something? Okay will anyhow, can you keep our music thread on this page and not let it drift to the ‘Older Entries’ section because we will be putting up music until New Years Day. Keep it on top so it is easy to get too. Thanks.

  • 88

    87 @ Puma:
    I have been keeping it on the 1st page, but every time we add new articles it moves down again… I will shift it right back up now again.

  • 89

    Okay out of here now. Extremely hot and humid in Umhlanga today. Going for a swim in the pool. Just far, far too busy with holiday makers at the beach.

    Will look in here later.

  • 90

    88 @ grootblousmile:
    Okay, just thought I would let you know in case it slipped to the next page, then it is a hassle to post our music there. So thank boet for keeping it on the first page. Will come a bit later and put us some more Xmas Songs or anything Xmas or festive as it is that time of year. So damn humid here today, only place to be is in the air con house or the pool, so going for a swim now.

    Back later.

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