Need to Know: Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh, United Rugby Championship match preview 2021/22

KO 7.35 at Scotstoun Stadium
Friday 18th March 2022
Live on Premier Sports 1

• This is the 33rd match contested for the 1872 Cup. Glasgow have won 17, Edinburgh 14 and there has been one draw (during this era, the Warriors have also won two further non-1872 Cup clashes between these sides – in August 2020 and May 2021).
• There are 33 changes from the combined squads that played the last time these two sides met at Scotstoun in May 2021. Henry Pyrgos is the only Edinburgh starter who was also in their XV in that previous fixture.
• Even with 34 players unavailable (17 for each side) there are still 19 capped internationals on show across the teams (11 for Glasgow and 8 for Edinburgh).
• The average age of Glasgow’s starting backline is 25.7 years – Edinburgh’s is 28.1. The average age of the homes side’s starting pack is 28.3 years – for the visitors it’s 26.3.
• The repective scrum halves, Jamie Dobie and Henry Pyrgos are the players to watch.
• Including postponed fixtures, this is the 9th(!) match preview that OTOTM has written for a game between Glasgow and Edinburgh in less than 19 months.

Teams

Head to Head:

Back 3 – ADV Edinburgh
Centres – ADV Edinburgh
Half Backs – ADV Glasgow
Front Row – ADV Glasgow
Second Row – ADV Glasgow
Back Row – ADV Edinburgh
Subs – ADV Edinburgh

Glasgow Greetings:

Murphy Walker will make his first start for the Warriors. The youngster is primarily in the squad as a tighthead prop but with three of Glasgow’s looseheads injured he’s showing his versatility to cover the other side of the scrum. His opposite number, Harrison Courtney, will also be making his first start at this level.

There’s a first appearance of the season for hooker Grant Stewart who hasn’t played since the last match between these sides – during the Rainbow Cup in May.

Once A Warrior / Erstwhile Edinburghers:

Duncan Weir and Henry Pyrgos – who started together in the half backs on 16 occasions for Glasgow – have plenty of experience in this fixture. Former Edinburgh men Simon Berghan, Ewan McQuillin and Ally Miller will get their first chance to take on their old club.

Warrior to Watch:

Still only 20 years old, Jamie Dobie will already be making his 31st appearance for Glasgow. A full capped international since last Autumn the only question about his progression to regular Test honours is when rather than if. His slinging style of passing is very effective and he possesses the kind of running threat that keeps defences honest close in around the contact areas.

Jamie will be up against a man who didn’t make his Warriors’ debut until he was 21 but who went on to make a record number of appearances for Glasgow by a scrum half. Henry Pyrgos is a different kind of 9 though. While he may not have the sniping break and big metres carried that his younger opponent does, Pyrgos is the onfield general in Mike Blair’s system. The wily veteran is there to provide the control and structure that the rest of the gameplan can freestyle off.

Glasgow v Edinburgh at Scotstoun:

• 8 wins
• 2 losses
• 3 try BPs
• 35 points out of a possible 50 (70%)

Previous match-up at Scotstoun:

Officials:

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 4th league game)
AR1: Keith Allen (SRU)
AR2: Ian Kenny (SRU)
TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)

Ms. Davidson’s regular season record for 2021/22:

Matches – 3
Average penalty count – 19.0 per game
Home side penalties conceded percentage – 45.6%
Average card count – 0.3 per game
Penalties per card – 57.0

Ms. Davidson will be the final member of Scotland’s quarter of full-time officials to take charge of an 1872 Cup fixture, after Mike Adamson, Ben Blain and Sam Grove-White. In fact it will be her first time as referee for any game involving either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

The former Scottish age grade international’s previous matches in the middle suggest a focus on clear communication and only penalising when necessary. Her card count is also very low – although the intensity and towsy nature of matches between these sides may well test her patience in this respect….

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Additional ref stats from: https://www.cardiffrfcfans.com/analysis/referee_heads.php?countryID=4