If last Monday’s game is anything to go by, this weekend’s 1872 Cup decider on New Year’s Day at Firhill should be an absolute cracker.
There was nothing to choose between the two teams in the 23-23 draw at Murrayfield. Both went out to play some good rugby, and in the end each scored three tries, of varying styles. (He's not bad that big Dutch bloke on the wing for Edinburgh; I think we’ll have to shut him down a lot more effectively than we did last time round.)
I've never seen Murrayfield as windy as it was either, which made it quite tricky for accurate passing. Well, that's my excuse at least and I'm sticking to it.
That was easily the best atmosphere I've experienced at an 1872 Cup game in the east, and the Glasgow fans were just phenomenal. We got a great cheer on our warm-up lap, and they definitely helped us to claw the game back when we were looking down and out. I can't wait to see what Firhill is going to be like this Sunday. I think it will be quite special.
It's been quite well documented that Firhill has a smaller pitch than Murrayfield, which might change the game plans a bit this weekend. The rest of the game doesn't change though.
There was a real intensity about the game at Murrayfield and Edinburgh came out of the blocks very impressively and played at great pace.
I think we were a bit guilty of sitting off them and allowing them that quick ball, but their first try was very well taken by Ross Rennie, who had a very good game.
We have quite a few areas to improve on if we are to win this time round, but there is no doubting our team spirit and ability to grind out results when things are not going our way.
The festive season is always a bit muted for professional rugby players. We had Christmas Day off, which was great, but otherwise it was training right the way through.
All the home town re-unions and the huge meals accompanied by all sorts of drink have to be sacrificed to some extent to prepare properly for these hugely important games.
We had a great talk from Richard Chessor, the SRU nutritionist, just before Christmas, where he reminded us what it would be advisable to eat come the big day.
Lots of cruciferous vegetables, apparently. (You can look it up if you need to. I did.) He also confirmed that, rather disappointingly, a Terry's chocolate orange, does not in fact count as one of your five a day. Better lay off the chocolate at least until after the game then.
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