The 1872 Cup derbies retain their premier significance to the players even when the annual clashes between Edinburgh and the Glasgow Warriors are shoe-horned into rugby’s frantic schedule, believes Tommy Seymour.
The Warriors and Scotland wing detects a palpable lift in excitement in training and preparations for tomorrow’s first leg at BT Murrayfield, even in the midst of the current run of European Champions Cup games and with the RBS 6 Nations looming just five weeks away.
“I would completely disagree with that,” he said when asked if he and the Warriors had bigger fish to fry than the parochial scrap. “Primarily, Edinburgh are just two points behind us in the PRO12 at the moment so if we don’t perform in these two games we will slip further down the table.
“The funny thing about these games is that they are different to the rest of the season. You actually look at the points as a bit of an afterthought once the games are finished.
“In the forefront of everyone’s minds it is about beating your rivals and winning the trophy, and when the dust has settled the points are crucial to getting the season on track.”
What keeps the fixtures high in the players and fans estimations is the way in which pro rugby has developed in the past few years, believes Seymour.
“It’s the oldest fixture in the game, but It has ramped up in recent years, as the awareness of rugby in both cities has grown and the following from both teams has increased.
“Our move to Scotstoun has obviously helped things a great deal because we have created a real home for ourselves here and the fans take pride in that. But I believe Murrayfield is on target for 20,000 or thereabouts, so Edinburgh will have a really strong following at home.”
The Warriors also have a score to settle after losing the 1872 Cup for the first time this decade last year, when Tim Visser’s two tries and a powerful defensive performance helped Edinburgh to a 20-8 win to overhaul a Glasgow advantage from the first leg.
“There’s definitely an extra emphasis on us to bring the cup back,” added Seymour. “I don’t think we were complacent last year, that’s something this squad will never be guilty of, but you have to give credit to Edinburgh.
“We were a little bit flat, but you get games like that, and it was just unfortunate it has to be at Murrayfield.
“Edinburgh played better than us and that’s why they got the win. We will need to do better this year.”
Glasgow are perceived as being the more dangerous side than Edinburgh especially in an attacking sense, but breaking down Edinburgh will be difficult, argues Seymour.
“They are very strong, they have the best defence in the league at the moment. They have conceded the fewest tries, they average just one a game against, so breaking them down is going to be incredibly difficult.
“If we have aspirations to be in the top four and get back to the play-offs then these games are absolutely crucial to doing that. But we can’t be thinking about multiple numbers of tries, we have to look at their strengths and concentrate on getting the result, first and foremost.”
And the personal element, with the players knowing each other particularly well from long spells in Rugby World Cup training camps with Scotland, adds to the mix.
“It makes it more exciting that we spent an extended period together, you know the guys on a personal level and you look forward to getting the chance to play against them and match yourself up against them,” continued Seymour.
“There’s still those match-ups across the park, and the international coaches are going to be watching these games very closely.
“They’re looking for consistency, yes, but these are games guys earmark as when they really want to put in their best performance because they know the selectors are watching.”