Glasgow out to defend title as Edinburgh try harder

Glasgow Warriors' Franco Smith and Edinburgh's Sean Everitt begin their campaigns this weekend

The new United Rugby Championship season kicks off this weekend with Glasgow Warriors looking to defend the title they won in stunning style in June, while Edinburgh are aiming to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in which they missed the play-offs.

Both sides have tough opening assignments as Edinburgh host Leinster on Friday and Glasgow travel to Ulster the following day.

To look ahead to the new campaign, BBC Sport Scotland spoke to former Glasgow captain Fraser Brown and Edinburgh's record points-scorer, Chris Paterson.

Glasgow go for glory again

Glasgow lifted URC trophy after beating Bulls in last season's final

The 2023-24 season was one of vastly contrasting fortunes for the two Scottish sides.

Glasgow were riding high in the table for most of the campaign before embarking on an epic run in the play-offs.

They dispatched Stormers in the quarter-finals, turned over defending champions Munster in the semis before an unforgettable triumph over the Bulls in Pretoria to claim the club's second league title, following their 2014-15 Pro12 triumph.

Now the challenge for Franco Smith’s side is to go and do it all over again.

Brown suggested: "It's not easy winning again and again and to do it consecutively. I think that'll be very difficult, but if you want to be the best or the greatest, I think that's got to be your target.

"I'm sure Franco Smith is targeting to win the league again. He's probably targeting to win Europe. He's probably targeting to conquer the world as well.

"So that'll definitely be their aim, but it's going to be a bit difficult this year because the top sides have added really well to their squads as well. So it's going to be a big challenge."

'Edinburgh must find consistency'

Defeat by Benetton ended Edinburgh's play-off hopes

As Glasgow stormed their way to the URC title, Edinburgh's campaign failed to ignite and came to an ignominious end as a battering by Benetton in the final round of the regular season consigned them to a 10th-place finish, missing out on the play-offs.

With 11 victories from 18 matches, only five teams boasted a better win record in the regular season, but a crippling inability to secure try bonus points ultimately proved to be their undoing.

Head coach Sean Everitt will know a top-eight finish and a spot in the play-offs is the bare minimum the Edinburgh fans will expect from a squad that - on paper - should be capable of competing towards the top end of the table.

Paterson suggested: "Targeting more tries is a big goal. They won more games than the two teams above them but finished below them, with a big difference being bonus points.

"The Edinburgh players will have watched Glasgow winning the URC through jealous eyes, but they'll also understand how big an achievement that was.

"Edinburgh beat the Bulls last season, they beat Glasgow, so they've beaten the teams that have progressed and gone through, so they're obviously able to do that.

"The step forward is consistency. Those level of performances are needed to beat everybody, not just the big teams."

New recruits and returning heroes

Fly-half Adam Hastings has returned to Glasgow Warriors

Both sides have added to their squads ahead of the new season, with significant departures from both clubs too.

Adam Hastings has returned to Glasgow, while Scotland prop Rory Sutherland has also signed, with the likes of George Turner, Ross Thompson - who has joined Edinburgh - and Oli Kebble departing Scotstoun.

"The big Glasgow signing is Hastings," Brown said.

"When he left three years ago, Adam was playing brilliant rugby. He's had a really difficult three years in terms of injury at Gloucester, so it would be really nice now to see him settled and fit.

"Rory Sutherland coming in will add a massive amount of quality and experience to that front row. There's been a lot of quality gone out the door, but that 30-man base is still really, really strong."

Edinburgh's struggle to score tries was often partly attributed to a lack of creativity in midfield, not helped by a constantly changing back-line beset by injuries.

The additions of Mosese Tuipulotu – brother of Glasgow and Scotland stalwart Sione – and Matt Scott should offer a greater attacking threat, while Scotland number eight Magnus Bradbury has returned to the capital to replace Bill Mata.

The return of Scotland wing Darcy Graham, back after an eight-month injury lay-off, will also provide a lift.

"Darcy is a world star," Paterson said. "He's an absolute diamond, so you want to see him play as much as possible.

"There's quality across that back three. Duhan van de Merwe, Emiliano Boffelli didn't play a lot last year, Harry Patterson came in and took his opportunity with the national team; Wes Gooson had a brilliant season last year as well.

"I do think Edinburgh could be well suited to play a counter-attack style, forcing teams to kick and then bringing these back-three players into the game."