Murray calls on Glasgow fans to back team in 1872 Cup return

Kenny Murray, the assistant coach at Glasgow Warriors, hopes many of the team's fans will travel to Edinburgh for the 1872 Cup return leg on Friday.

Murray's side edged Edinburgh 16-6 on Saturday and the rivals have only six days to regroup before they meet again in a tie that doubles as a Pro 12 game.

"We need the Glasgow fans who came to the (home) game to head through," said Murray of the match at Murrayfield.

"It is the national stadium, it brings something special with it."

The Glasgow players were given Sunday off as a rest day but on Monday were back at Scotstoun, which was packed to its near 7,000 capacity for the win over Edinburgh, for a day of medical assessment and video review of the first leg.

"One of the things I remember last year was the number of Glasgow fans who travelled through, and the noise when the Glasgow team came out on to the pitch really astounded us," Murray told BBC Scotland.

"This year, hopefully, we'll get the same. It is something the boys will be looking forward to.

"Edinburgh have had some excellent results - they beat Munster (away in September). I think it will be a cracker."

Glasgow will take a 10-point advantage with them along the M8 but the 1872 Cup could yet be torn from the hands of the reigning champions.

The visitors have won by a mere four points in their last two visits to the capital and on their day Edinburgh can be a formidable side. They - and Gloucester - are, after all, the only unbeaten teams among the 20 competing in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

"We thought they were really physical at the weekend," continued Murray, the former Ayr head coach.

"They put us under a lot of pressure, particularly at the breakdown, so it wasn't any less than we expected but we've identified some areas that we need to improve before Friday.

The Glasgow Warriors players applaud Edinburgh off the pitch after the 1872 Cup first leg on Saturday

"One of our key themes is seizing opportunities. A lot of that is to do with handling and decision-making."

In the immediate aftermath of the first leg, Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend pointed to the number of errors his players had made. It is a theme picked up on by Murray, especially relating to the breakdown.

"We need to tighten up in that area," he said.

"We work a lot on that in training, but our decision-making in those pressured situations needs to be better, particularly against a really aggressive defence like Edinburgh's.

"They talk in rugby now about the breakdown being the third set-piece - the scrum, lineout and the breakdown - because it's so important to get the benefit over the other team.

"We felt we didn't have quick enough ball. Fair dos to Edinburgh for slowing that down but we have to look at what we can do to improve the quality and speed of our ball."