Edinburgh’s milestone man Grant Gilchrist focused on reaching Pro14 final

Lock proud as he gets set for 150th appearance but beating Ulster in last-four clash is his top priority

Grant Gilchrist has been described as 'one of a kind' by Edinburgh skipper and friend Stuart McInally as the lock prepares for a landmark 150th appearance. Picture: Mark Scates/SNS Group

Grant Gilchrist takes pride in the fact he will be making his 150th appearance for Edinburgh tomorrow night but it’s very much a side issue compared to the quest for a place in the Guinness Pro14 final as Ulster stand in their way at BT Murrayfield.

The hard-carrying lock will know full well, along with those who have watched his career from the beginnings as an academy prospect plucked from Alloa, that he could have been nearer the double century mark if it hadn’t been for some crushing injuries and a drop in confidence during the middle years of the last decade.

But Gilchrist, who made his debut against Cardiff back in September 2011, is still honoured to pass a milestone that puts him in the same bracket as the likes of Chris Paterson, Ross Ford and all-time record holder Allan “Chunk” Jacobsen.

“It still feels a bit surreal to be compared to these guys I grew up watching,” said the man who has 42 caps for Scotland. “I don’t really keep tabs on how many games I’ve had but it is a cool feeling to reach a milestone like this.

“I felt immensely proud to get my first game for Edinburgh, and I’ll feel just as proud on Saturday to get my 150th game.

“It is the kind of thing that will mean a lot to me at the end of my career, but at the minute it will be a special day to play my 150th game, but it will be a special day anyway because it is a semi-final.”

Leading the tributes to Gilchrist was his best pal and skipper Stuart McInally, who was born on the same day as his team-mate and both turned 30 together on 9 August.

“He’s one of a kind. I don’t feel there’s anyone who could replace him,” said the hooker.

“He offers so much to this team in terms of rugby and what he does away from the field. I know he was looking at setpiece and lineouts all weekend to try and think up a plan for this weekend.

“A real student of the game, he loves to learn. I’ve watched his game develop. He really cares about the club and wants Edinburgh to be successful. For me, having someone like that alongside me, it makes my job easy.

“I know if we have a setpiece meeting I can leave that to Grant and focus on other things. He’s really key to me and the club and I’m proud to see him get his 150th game.”

Gilchrist puts his hands up and admits the charge of being a bit of a rugby nerd during his downtime and, as he enters his 30s, confirmed that coaching could be in his future at some point.

“I’m pretty open minded , it’s one of the routes I’d look at if there were opportunities there and I’d certainly be interested in trying to pursue that,” he said.

“I’m studying Business as well, so I’m not sure what avenue I’ll go down come the end of my career but I’m happy at the moment to be open minded and see what opportunities come my way and pursue what’s there at the time.”

Like the rest of the Edinburgh squad, Gilchrist has been invigorated by the arrival of coach Richard Cockerill, who names his team for the semi-final at noon today.

Asked if, as a senior player, he ever has the guts to challenge the hard taskmaster who has revolutionised the capital side, Gilchrist smiles and says: “There’s a balancing act. You’ve got to be pretty sure you’ve watched enough and seen enough to know your idea is good enough if you’re going to pitch it to the big man. 
He’s such a good coach that most of the time it’ll be an alternative to something he’s already seen.

“You’re not going to open these guys’ eyes to the way of playing the game or calls he hasn’t thought of. It’s always good to put your ideas out there and quite often he’ll say no to me, he’ll say we’ll do it my way and that’s the right of the coach.

“But I think it’s always good to put yourself out there even if he says ‘just shut up Gilco’. That’s fine by me because it’s more about me knowing I’ve put my best foot forward or if I’ve seen something, I’d rather say it rather than just go along with it.”

In his first season Gilchrist was part of the Edinburgh team that made a surprise bolt to the giddy heights of a Heineken Cup semi-final despite finishing second bottom of the then Pro12. It was Ulster who beat them at the last-four stage back then but Gilchrist said: “There’s not many guys left who played in that game, so it is not really an issue for everyone, but from a personal level that experience of not getting the win, I certainly don’t want to feel that way again.

“We’ll have to be at our very best and prepared as well as we can. We know we have the right tactics in place and we need to deliver them on Saturday.”

It is expected that Ben Toolish will be back from injury to partner Gilchrist in the second row and the latter said: “He’s a top class player, one of our best players. It’s a big ask coming back after a shoulder injury straight into a big game but his quality as a rugby player will see him right.”

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