Rugby: Currie are keen to add more spice to season

Full back Jamie Forbes says the encounter will be the perfect antidote to a run which has seen Currie slip down the league table on the back of five defeats and a draw; with one fixture left they are sixth and struggling for a British and Irish Cup place.

That dismal sequence has produced just two points from a share of the spoils with Boroughmuir but the true measure of the side, claims Forbes, was the way they dug out a 16-14 victory over Heriot’s in the  Edinburgh Cup Final.

“Form comes and goes and when you are in a bit of a rut all you can do is put the head down and grind through it which we are doing,” says Forbes who experienced the Cup Final  atmosphere at Murrayfield as a member of the Watson’s  College team.

“I’ve reached a schools final and loved everything about the occasion. Now I’m desperate to get some silverware again,” he adds.

This weekend is the last  opportunity for players in the Scottish Clubs’ extended squad to stake a claim for inclusion in next week’s clash with Ireland at Ayr.

Forbes, who is in contention along with club captain Mark Cairns, is adamant it will be furthest from their minds.

“Play well and these things take care of themselves as much as everybody in the squad is hoping for recognition. The current league run is just flabbergasting because we are not doing anything differently and the Cup is perfect for  getting that winning edge back. One thing’s for sure, this meeting usually throws up plenty of tries.”

When Currie won 47-27 on Tayside this season they ran in seven touchdowns only for Dundee to reverse that result in the return by winning 35-12.

Forbes, who needs 19 points to complete his 200 for the campaign, adds: “The high scoring occured in our final match last season when we went down  43-36 at Dundee.“I have to admit, though, I’d settle for a 3-0 win if it meant we had at least one more match to play other than our last league game which is at home to Heriot’s.”

With professionals barred from Cup action, Currie shake up the side which lost at Ayr a week ago and utilise Caleb van der Westerlo at stand off with Jack Broadley introduced at centre.

Dropping out are Edinburgh pair Gregor Hunter and John Houston.

In the forwards, Fergus Scott returns at hooker after injury while Steve Burton and Alan Whittingham are on the bench after lengthy absences.

Coach Donaldson is wary of Dundee drawing extra determination from wanting to send retiring coach Ian Rankin off with a Cup win.

“Dundee have a settled, injury-free, quality squad and will come full of confidence after a win at Melrose.

“We’ve been looking at  improving necessary areas and need to get some consistency as every week there is a different facet letting us down.”

In the Premiership, bottom-placed Boroughmuir stage what could be their penultimate top-flight game against Heriot’s who beat them  37-5 at Goldenacre last week. Neither team has announced line-ups.