Horne relishing return to Scotstoun for 1872 Cup clash

• 20 Dec 2022
• Interviews

Glasgow Warriors skills coach Pete Horne is relishing the opportunity to play Edinburgh back at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7.35pm).

This is the first game to be played at the club’s home since the 37-0 victory over Benetton back in October, after last Friday night’s second round fixture in the EPCR Challenge Cup had to be moved to BT Murrayfield because of the freezing conditions.

Horne said: “It’s a big week, it’s great to have a home game the Friday before Christmas.

“Last weekend we showed a lot of resilience, the game wasn’t pretty, but we hung in, and the boys got the win over the line. In those tight games the crowd can make such a difference, and when they get behind you at key moments it can really give you a boost. We’re looking forward to being back in Glasgow.”

Friday’s game is the first leg of the 150^th anniversary double-header, the return leg taking place at BT Murrayfield a week on Friday (30 October, kick-off 7.35pm). As ever there are plenty of bragging rights to play for – a newly refurbished 1872 Cup trophy that now dons the names of the winning club every year back to 1872, and vital URC points that both impact Glasgow’s overall league position as well as their standing in the URC’s Scottish x Italian Shield.

For Horne, taking lessons from last weekend’s match against Perpignan will be key to a good performance this Friday.

He continued: “Perpignan were ferocious at the breakdown. They made the breakdown messy, there were bodies everywhere. Everything we talked about beforehand they did, and they made it difficult.

“However, it was a good lesson for this weekend, Edinburgh will be good at the breakdown too with players like Jamie [Ritchie] and [Luke] Crosbie – he’s on fire right now.

“We didn’t play that well last weekend but we still won, so that’s really sharpened our focus this week because we know we can be much better. Training’s been quite spicy this week already, because all of the boys are so keen to rip into the game this Friday.

“Competition for places is fierce and that’s helping to drive our standards even higher ahead of Friday night.