Ritchie returns for Scotstoun showdown
Scotland international back-row Jamie Ritchie will return to Edinburgh’s starting XV for tomorrow afternoon’s 1872 Cup second leg against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium (Saturday 29 December, kick-off 3pm) – live on Premier Sports.
The inclusion of Ritchie – who missed the capital club’s last two fixtures through injury – is the only alteration to the side that defeated Glasgow 23-7 at BT Murrayfield last weekend.
Ahead of the second leg of the world’s oldest inter-city derby fixture, Head Coach Richard Cockerill said: “We were delighted with result and the performance against Glasgow last weekend, but we know they’ll be hurting and we expect them to come back at us even stronger.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of last weekend’s win. We were really happy with our physicality and our set-piece, whilst we were really solid defensivley.
“The boys have enjoyed a little bit of time off over Christmas, but we’ve come back in, trained really well and we’re excited for the challenge that awaits us at Scotstoun tomorrow.”
An unchanged back-three sees fullback Blair Kinghorn named alongside wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, with the latter grabbing a brace of tries in last weekend’s win over the Warriors.
James Johnstone and Chris Dean are named in midfield together for the fourth straight match, whilst stand-off Jaco van der Walt – who grabbed 13 points in last Saturday’s win – and experienced scrum-half Henry Pyrgos continue at half-back.
In the front-row, Pierre Schoeman – who made his first 1872 Cup appearance last weekend – continues at loosehead prop alongside captain Stuart McInally and WP Nel.
Club centurions Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second-row, whilst the inclusion of Ritchie at blindside flanker is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-row as Hamish Watson and Fijian No. 8 Viliame Mata complete the pack.
Edinburgh team to face Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium in the second leg of the 1872 Cup on Saturday 29 December (kick-off 3pm) – live on Premier Sports
15. Blair Kinghorn (74)
14. Darcy Graham (14)
13. James Johnstone (31)
12. Chris Dean (77)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (30)
10. Jaco van der Walt (27)
9. Henry Pyrgos (13)
1. Pierre Schoeman (10)
2. Stuart McInally (130) CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (125)
4. Ben Toolis (100)
5. Grant Gilchrist (130)
6. Jamie Ritchie (57)
7. Hamish Watson (91)
8. Viliame Mata (48)
Replacements: 16. David Cherry (9); 17. Allan Dell (54); 18. Simon Berghan (58); 19. Callum Hunter-Hill (9); 20. Luke Crosbie (18); 21 Nathan Fowles (65); 22. Simon Hickey (13); 23. Juan Pablo Socino (11)
Unavailable due to injury: Lewis Carmichael; John Barclay; Magnus Bradbury; Senitiki Nayalo; Matt Scott; Mark Bennett; Damien Hoyland
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