Edinburgh have their eyes set on Euro glory

There is something quite ironic about Edinburgh being the only Scottish side to reach the knock out stages of European competition.

Their rivals at the other end of the M8 have played more-attractive rugby all year and sit happily at the top of the Guinness Pro 12 League, yet it is Edinburgh who could still achieve European glory, albeit in the secondary competition.

Glasgow have had their moments this season and few will forget their dismantling of Bath at Scotstoun in the early stages of the pool matches.

Edinburgh take on London Irish this afternoon and there are a couple of intriguing Scottish ‘head-to-heads’.

For the winner, a place in the semi-final is on offer something that Edinburgh managed in the major competition a few years ago so they will want to go one step better.

This afternoon pits Blair Cowan against Hamish Watson in a fascinating battle of the opensides. Cowan is the incumbent in Vern Cotter’s national side, but Watson is nipping at his heels.

Both will be very competitive at the breakdown and it will be interesting to see which of the two emerges on top.

Watson is strong with the ball in hand and would develop into quite an awesome prospect if he could learn to look for support runners and offload to them.

Of course, Edinburgh also field one of the forgotten men of the Scottish back row in Roddy Grant on the other side of the scrum to Watson how Grant has been overlooked as a potential openside is a mystery to many, including me it could be Grant’s perfect opportunity.

Another interesting match-up will take place at scrum-half where school friends Scott Steele and Sam Hildalgo-Clyne oppose each other.

At school Hildalgo-Clyne was Steele’s fly-half but the former has overtaken the latter in the pecking order for national honours. I’d

expect Steele to be trying to get one over his former fly-half this afternoon.

It is a big opportunity for Edinburgh to salvage something from an up and down season a home semi-final would be ideal as would a top-six finish in the League. It is all to play for.

Meanwhile, Glasgow’s inspirational captain Al Kellock this week announced that he is to retire from rugby at the end of the season. Kellock has been a tremendous servant to the game at both club and international level. Not the most talented or gifted player, his commitment to the cause could never be faulted and he has made the most of his opportunities.

There is still the business end of the season to be negotiated for Kellock and his mates at Glasgow winning the Pro 12 League for the first time would be a fitting send off.