Preview: Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in EPCR quarter-final action

Preview: Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby in EPCR quarter-final action

Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby are both in EPCR Challenge Cup action tomorrow with the knowledge that a win for both sides would lead to a mouth-watering semi-final between the two in the capital.

Edinburgh are up first, taking on Wasps at DAM Health Stadium (kick-off 12.30pm).

Fresh off a successful two-week tour of South Africa, Edinburgh booked their place in the last-eight of the European competition after putting English Premiership side Bath to the sword in the Round of 16.

Blair Kinghorn, Emiliano Boffelli, Pierre Schoeman, Mark Bennett and Connor Boyle all crossed the whitewash as Mike Blair’s squad claimed an impressive 41-19 victory against the English Premiership strugglers.

Edinburgh will be looking to bounce back from their first-ever defeat at DAM Health Stadium – as Ulster claimed a 10-16 URC win last Saturday – but the capital club have been imperious at home so far this season, playing in front an average crowd around 6,000.

Ahead of the European Quarter-Final, Head Coach Mike Blair, said: “We’re obviously really disappointed to lose that unbeaten record at home. It more of a stat than anything else, but it also shows that we are very difficult to beat at home, and that stands going into the Wasps game.

“I thought Wasps played some outstanding rugby against London Irish in the first 60 minutes on Sunday and then London Irish, obviously came back into the game. But it shows the quality of team that is going to come up here, and we expect them to come fully loaded and ready to go.

“So, it is a great opportunity for us to get back on the horse. I thought we played some really good stuff at the weekend without scoring the points – but we all know that scoring the points is the most important bit, so we’ve got some work to do in and around there.”

Then tomorrow evening, Glasgow head to France to take on Lyon (kick-off 8pm BST).

After booking their place in the last-eight with a confident 27-17 win away to Newcastle Falcons, the Warriors make the trip to Matmut Stade Gerland knowing that victory would secure them a piece of club history and a place in the final four.

The Top14 side have been in impressive form in domestic action this season, as well as securing the top seeding after breezing their way through the Challenge Cup pool stages.

It will be just the second time that Glasgow Warriors have made the trip to Lyon, with Wilson’s men looking to maintain an unbeaten record against the French side.

Speaking following selection, Head Coach Danny Wilson said: “After two tough league matches we resume our European campaign and look to build on our good performance against Newcastle.

“Lyon are a side who have a number of threats across the park and are very consistent at home.

“We want to be playing at this level and testing ourselves against the best sides in Europe and this weekend’s game gives us that chance.

“Returning from South Africa we’ve had a good week of training and we’re looking forward to taking on Lyon tomorrow evening.”

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