Edinburgh new boy Andrew Davidson relishing double-header with former team Glasgow

Lock swapped Scotstoun for Murrayfield over the summer and says his new side will be switched on for 1872 Cup derbies

Andrew Davidson only saw limited action during his stay with Glasgow and is determined to make up for lost time at new club Edinburgh. Picture: Bill Murray/SNS

Andrew Davidson insists there is no chance of fired-up Edinburgh being caught cold as they return to action against Glasgow tomorrow.

The 23-year-old lock entered lockdown as a Warrior but will be among the capital club’s ranks at Murrayfield this weekend having swapped clubs over the summer.

The former Scotland youth international has been struck by the levels of desire among his new team-mates as they chase down the solitary point required from their upcoming double header with Danny Wilson’s team to book a place in the Guinness Pro14 
semi-finals.

The forward told Edinburgh’s official website: “The rivalry is such a big thing – these are the big games 
that you really have to switch on for.

“The boys are raring to go, and you can tell from the way that the players and the coaches have been speaking about it in the build-up that it’s just as big – if not bigger – through here [at Edinburgh].

“It’ll be head down and no holding back for sure. When the game comes around you just get stuck in, and wait until after the game to say your 
‘hellos’.

“We’ve got two massive games to put ourselves in the best position going forward for this end-of-the-season run-in. These back-to-back matches aren’t pre-season games where guys can build into it and learn while we play – there can’t be any room for error.

“Glasgow like to play a fast, attacking brand of rugby, but we’ve got our plans set out and we know what we’re going to do.”

Davidson enjoyed a successful three-year stint at Newcastle Falcons, before catching the eye in the limited action he received after switching to Scotstoun in 2018.

He will have Scotland second-rowers Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis for competition at Edinburgh but Davidson is determined to make up for lost time.

“I fell out of form a wee bit at Glasgow and didn’t get as much game time as I would’ve liked,” he said.

“Then, my agent phoned me one day and said, ‘Jim Mallinder and Richard 
Cockerill are really keen to meet you’ so I went through to BT Murrayfield pre-lockdown and everything they said appealed to me.

“Cockers said it was going to be hard work but I’d be a better player for it – and I already feel like I’m getting better every day. I was told that no matter who you are, if you’re playing well and you’re in-form, you’re going to get picked.

“So, I’m going to train hard, and do everything I can. I’ve not come to hold back – I want to play rugby. Obviously, there’s a lot of good names at Edinburgh but that’s my goal.

“I want to put my name down and give the coaches something to think about going forward.”

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