An All-Star Edinburgh/Glasgow XV: A “Dream Team for the Ages”

Glasgow rugby has been played at four city stadiums: Hughenden, Firhill, Scotstoun, and Celtic Park, the latter for the Pro14 final in 2019. This Sunday, Glasgow will add a fifth venue, Hampden, when they host Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup. The fixture has generated considerable discussion regarding its history and the ongoing narrative of the reigning URC champions. An alternative perspective proposes assembling a “dream team for the ages” by combining the top players from Edinburgh and Glasgow, representing the best of the east and west, since the URC’s inception 23 years ago. This concept offers both enjoyment and potential for debate. Full-back: Stuart Hogg is chosen for the full-back position. Right wing: Darcy Graham is selected, noted for his consistent excellence and enjoyable play. His desire for the ball is exceptional, and his ability to identify and exploit space is considered world-class. Outside centre: Huw Jones is chosen for this position. A URC winner, he is recognized for his exceptional class and formidable attacking play. Following early career highs and subsequent challenges, he has demonstrated a more comprehensive skill set in recent years than during his initial standout performances for Scotland. Inside centre: Sione Tuipulotu is selected, forming what is described as the most devastating midfield combination in Scottish rugby history alongside Jones, a partnership of rare quality. Left wing: DTH van der Merwe is chosen for the left wing. Duhan van der Merwe’s contributions for Edinburgh were considered insufficient, and Tommy Seymour was a strong contender. DTH van der Merwe, the Canadian player, notably scored a try against Munster in the memorable 2015 final. Fly-half: Finn Russell is selected. His brilliance is noted as being disproportionate to his medal count. He has not participated in this competition since 2018, but accumulated numerous remarkable moments prior to his move to Paris. Scrum-half: George Horne is chosen for scrum-half. While Greig Laidlaw was a potential selection, Horne’s remarkable ability to play at speed and penetrate defences is highlighted. Niko Matawalu also possessed this quality, but Horne continues to demonstrate it. He is Glasgow’s third highest try scorer. Loosehead: Allan Jacobsen is selected. Notable contenders included Lion Ryan Grant and future Lion Pierre Schoeman. Jacobsen, though never a Lion, is described as a great player, a colossus, a ferocious competitor, and highly regarded by his teammates. Hooker: Ross Ford is chosen for the hooker position. Fraser Brown, despite his magnificent performances for Glasgow, was not selected to maintain neutrality. Ford is recognized for his longevity, quality, and physicality, considered a serious player. Tighthead: Zander Fagerson is selected. He is regarded as progressing towards becoming one of Scotland’s great players, possessing comprehensive skills and identified as a generational prop. Second-row: Leone Nakarawa, a hero from 2015, is deemed essential for the team. He is described as a mesmeric off-loader with an impressive skill-set and a captivating running game. Second-row: Grant Gilchrist is selected. While Al Kellock and the Gray brothers were strong candidates, Gilchrist is recognized as a dedicated Edinburgh player who has returned to excellent form this season. He is an exceptional lineout specialist, having made his Edinburgh debut over 13 years ago. Blindside: Matt Fagerson is chosen for blindside flanker. He is characterized by his fierce competitiveness, constant movement, intense physicality, and his role as a fundamental player in last season’s championship team. Openside: Jamie Ritchie is selected. His career output has been consistently brilliant, and despite recent fluctuations in form, his assertive style is rapidly re-emerging. At his peak, Ritchie is described as a dominant ball-poacher and a formidable presence, highly influential when performing optimally. No 8: Bill Mata completes the East-West Dream Team, representing players since the inception of the Pro12. While other players may have demonstrated greater consistency, Mata is highlighted for his unique genius and ability to perform actions few others globally could replicate. The article suggests that alternative versions of this team could be compiled, but asserts that this particular selection, at its peak, would be formidable to overcome.