“A real Glasgow performance” | Wilson pays tribute to team effort
It was a performance that showed exactly what Glasgow rugby was all about, as a resolute Glasgow Warriors overpowered Edinburgh to lift the 1872 Cup at Scotstoun.
A four-try bonus-point and a physical defensive display saw the home side claim a 29-19 victory, ensuring the trophy would be remaining in Glasgow for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
For Head Coach Danny Wilson, the performance and the result was exactly what the doctor ordered.
“The boys responded tonight,” he told glasgowwarriors.org.
“We’d talked for the last fortnight about how important it was to stand up and respond to the Benetton result and I thought the boys showed character in abundance tonight.
“We felt we owed the supporters a real Glasgow performance and they delivered that.”
Across the board, the Warriors stood up to be counted. With co-captains Ryan Wilson and Fraser Brown leading from the front and 2021 British and Irish Lions tourists Zander Fagerson and Ali Price underling their class, it was a victory built on a true team performance.
“Zander and Ali showed tonight why they’ve been selected to tour with the Lions this summer,” said Wilson.
“They were outstanding tonight. To turn in a performance like that the day after the squad announcement shows their quality.
“Cole Forbes was excellent out there, too. He took his try really well and around the park he was a real influence on the match.
“He fully deserved the Player of the Match award, I thought he was outstanding.
“Above all, though, the effort of each and every one of our players was tremendous. All of the boys stood up for their club and their team-mates and that’s what earned us the trophy.”
For Glasgow players, staff and supporters, it was the perfect ending to a week where qualification for the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup was all but confirmed in addition to Fagerson and Price’s Lions call.
“Tonight, along with European qualification, shows that there are some mini achievements to be had in what we all know has been a challenging year,” said Wilson.
“We can kick on from these achievements and into next year – we know we’ve got something to build on.”