Glasgow Warriors ring 1872 Cup changes and deploy bomb squad as Edinburgh get timely boost
Smith puts faith in group as hosts welcome back key centre
Glasgow Warriors have rung the changes for the second leg of the 1872 Cup on Saturday as they seek to do the festive double over Edinburgh.
Franco Smith, the Warriors head coach, has freshened up his pack for the game at Murrayfield, bringing in six new starters as he seeks to utilise his squad over a busy period.
The free week which used to follow the 1872 Cup has been scrapped and both sides are straight back into URC action on January 3 before the Investec Champions Cup resumes the following week.
Such a hectic schedule has persuaded Smith that some players need to be managed, particularly with the Six Nations just around the corner.
The Warriors won the first leg 24-12 at Hampden but the Glasgow coach has changed his entire tight five for Murrayfield. The all-new front row of Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews and Sam Talakai takes over from Nathan McBeth, Gregor Hiddleston and Zander Fagerson, who are benched. Behind them, Alex Craig and Alex Samuel replace Max Williamson and Scott Cummings. There is also a change in the back row where Angus Fraser comes in for Rory Darge
Williamson is rested completely but Cummings is named among the replacements and will make his 150th appearance for Glasgow if he comes on. Darge is also on the bench giving Glasgow a formidable 'bomb squad'.
“Obviously this is still a massive, massive game for us, but we have a lot of massive games coming as well,” said Smith, whose team will host Zebre in the URC on January 3 ahead of Euro ties against Clermont and Saracens. “Some guys have played three or four games in a row, and I want to manage the energy, the game time and the preparation.”
‘Important to keep the side fresh’
Glasgow have gone with more or less the same team in the last three outings and been rewarded with huge wins over Sale Sharks, Toulouse and then Edinburgh. It’s been a fruitful month after the disappointment of the shock defeat by the Scarlets at the end of November. Now Smith wants to challenge the depth of his squad.
“Most of the boys who are going to start haven't played since Scarlets, and it’s important to get them some rugby before we look at Zebre coming up and then two Champions Cup fixtures,” said the coach. “It’s important to keep the side fresh and to keep evolving. I can’t be drawn into [thinking about] this Christmas battle only.”
For Edinburgh, a victory is more pressing. They’ve won just two from six in the URC and have not lifted the 1872 Cup since the 2021-22 season.
They are boosted by the return of James Lang at centre who has recovered from a shoulder injury and replaces Piers O’Conor who suffered a concussion at Hampden. Duhan van der Merwe has been passed fit after suffering a bang on the hip against Glasgow.
Ewan Ashman also failed an HIA at Hampden and is replaced at hooker by Harri Morris, who made his Scotland debut in the autumn. With Paddy Harrison also out there is a place among the subs for academy hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 21, who could make his debut. He is joined on the bench by his younger brother Ollie, 19, who started the first leg but makes way for Paul Hill at Murrayfield.
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors match details
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors (URC/1872 Cup, Murrayfield, Saturday, 3pm)
Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen; Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe; Cammy Scott, Ben Vellacott; Pierre Schoeman, Harri Morris, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Grant Gilchrist, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (capt). Replacements: Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Boan Venter, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Hunter-Hill, Freddy Douglas, Charlie Shiel, Ross Thompson, Jack Brown.
Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith; Kyle Steyn (capt), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Jamie Dobie; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Sam Talakai, Alex Craig, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Angus Fraser, Jack Dempsey. Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Rory Darge, Ben Afshar, Dan Lancaster.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 24th league game).
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