Glasgow envy lit fire under Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist

David Skippers

Edinburgh second-row Grant Gilchrist admits he was filled with envy as Glasgow claimed league glory five years ago and is looking to do likewise this season.

The Warriors’ 2015 PRO12 triumph made them the first Scottish team to claim a major trophy.

But while Gregor Townsend’s team lapped up that ground-breaking victory over Munster in Belfast, Gilchrist was sat at home jealously wishing he could sample his own taste of triumph.

Back then the capital club were nowhere near mounting a bid for silverware but the arrival of Richard Cockerill in 2017 has transformed Edinburgh into genuine contenders and they can take a huge step towards equalling Glasgow’s trophy-winning feat when they host Ulster in Saturday’s PRO14 semi-final.

Success at Scotstoun was a long-term project built up over several seasons.

Now Gilchrist reckons Edinburgh are within touching distance of the ultimate prize having put in their own hard yards.

The Scotland forward said: “When you see your rival clubs – especially at a time when we weren’t playing anywhere near as well as the Glasgow boys – then there is always that envy.

“But we knew it would not be an overnight job to get to their level. We’ve worked hard enough in the years since that we are now also in that position to win stuff.

“The biggest thing that stands out to me from what Glasgow did is that they made progress.

“They fell short in some games but then worked out a way to win the games that mattered.

“There is no next week if we don’t win on Saturday and that’s what Glasgow learned to deal with.

“They had a few disappointments. They got to the semis, lost a final but then won the tournament outright and we’re hoping that we’ve learned our own lessons having reached the big games we’ve experienced these last couple of years and can now take the next step come Saturday.”

Gilchrist will make his 150th appearance for Edinburgh this weekend.

Of the previous 149, two brushes with Munster – 2018’s quarter-final loss in the PRO12 play-offs and last season’s Champions Cup last-eight defeat – took the longest to get over as Edinburgh were given a ruthless lesson in what is required to reach the top.

But with the help of Cockerill, Gilchrist insists his side are now finally armed with the secret to success.

“I’ve been at the club for a long time and these games don’t come around too often,” he said. “We’ve done well to get to these big games we’ve had over the last few years. Two years ago we played Munster in the quarter-finals of the league and then again in the quarters of the Champions Cup last year.

“We came up short narrowly on both occasions so this is about taking the next step.

“We’ve shown we’re consistent enough to reach these games – now it’s about winning them. That’s a big challenge. It’s not good enough just to reach a play-off, we have to win.

“Cockers has been there and done it before, so he knows what it takes to win. He has instilled that in us so that we know this is how you prepare to win games.

“As players we’ve been under his leadership for three years. We’re starting to see that if we work hard and do things the right way week in, week out then we get results.”

Edinburgh