Two brilliant tries from halfway helped Glasgow overturn an eight-point half-time deficit as the Warriors claimed back the 1872 Cup from Edinburgh in style at Murrayfield.
The Warriors were clearly second best in the first half and could have been further behind. But inspired by the playmaking of Tom Jordan, Sione Tuipulotu and George Horne, they scored 20 points in 20 minutes.
The two tries from Jordan and Horne came from flowing moves from halfway as Glasgow simply overwhelmed their hosts. Similar to the heavy loss against Munster at home earlier this month, Edinburgh’s lead and resistance vanished all too quickly.
Edinburgh fade alarmingly again
Edinburgh bounce back! 🏰
Luke Crosbie's try makes it 17 consecutive points for @EdinburghRugby since going behind early on, and they lead in the battle for the 1872 Cup 🔥#URC | #EDIvGLA pic.twitter.com/A2O1mom7Ab
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) December 30, 2022
Glasgow definitely got a lift from their bench, particularly when Horne came on. But there was little explanation for the way Edinburgh fell out of the game in the final half-hour.
Watching Scotland coach Gregor Townsend could only be impressed with man-of-the-match Tuipulotu’s performance, but also that of Richie Gray and Jack Dempsey in the second half. However he’ll be concerned at the way Edinburgh’s Scotland stars faded so abruptly.
Glasgow had the ideal start, but Edinburgh dominated the first half.
The Warriors’ first attack saw big carries from Richie Gray and Sione Tuipulotu set up a wide move. Kyle Steyn still had plenty defenders in front of him when he got the ball, but the home side’s tackling was pitiful to allow the skipper go through four players to score.
Glasgow handed back the initiative straight back when Ali Price’s exit kick in his own 22 was charged down by Skinner. Crosbie recovered the loose ball and Ritchie was driven over for the levelling try.
A storming Bill Mata run won a penalty kicked by Emiliano Boffelli, and the Warriors were lucky to escape when Duhan van der Merwe was held up over the line.
But they quickly scored again with penalties from scrum and maul pressure, another maul allowing Crosbie to spin off and get the second try.
The Warriors needed a spark and got it from Tuipulotu’s 50 metre charge through the midfield. That eventually forced a penalty, and after kicking to the corner Glasgow worked a neat lineout move for Matt Fagerson to crash over and bring it back to 17-12.
But the pressure at the scrum continued and Boffelli landed a second penalty to take the home side out to 20-12 at the break.
Jordan’s try sparks the comeback
"In 150 years of this magnificent fixture, THAT is one of the classic tries!" 😱😱
Scintillating rugby from @GlasgowWarriors as George Horne helps his team to take a colossal step towards winning the 1872 Cup 🏆#URC | #EDIvGLA pic.twitter.com/zykrPRs9iE
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) December 30, 2022
Edinburgh still had the edge into the second half. But they didn’t really look like adding to their lead and Glasgow struck for a great try on 56 minutes.
Tom Jordan was involved twice, starting the move near halfway. He was then on hand when Sione Vailunu and Sebastien Cancelliere worked the space to go under the posts.
The stand-off converted and Glasgow suddenly had the ascendancy. They forced a penalty under the posts and a yellow card to replacement Marshall Sykes. George Horne kicked the Warriors ahead.
And they made it count with another outstanding try with ten minutes left. Tuipulotu’s brilliant kick through on halfway was snared by Steyn on the run. Half-backs Jordan and Horne were in support on the inside, the replacement scrum-half scooting under the posts.
Jordan converted and with a late Horne penalty to add, Glasgow’s stunning 20-point comeback streak was completed.
Replacement hooker Paddy Harrison scored a consolation try for a losing bonus point. But Glasgow had the cup firmly in their grasp.
Att 25,137
Teams
Edinburgh: Harry Paterson; Emiliano Boffelli, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe; Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos; Boan Venter, Tom Cruse, WP Nel; Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist (co-capt); Jamie Ritchie (co-capt), Luke Crosbie, Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Paddy Harrison (for Cruse 61), Pierre Schoeman (for Venter 55), Angus Williams (for Nel 68), Marshall Sykes (for Skinner 67), Connor Boyle (for Mata 57), Charlie Shiel (for Pyrgos 71), Charlie Savala (for van der Merwe 64), Cammy Hutchinson (for Lang 71).
Glasgow: Ollie Smith; Sebastien Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu, Stafford McDowell, Kyle Steyn (capt); Tom Jordan, Ali Price; Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Lucio Sordoni; Sintu Manjezi, Richie Gray; Matt Fagerson, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: George Turner (for Brown 53), Simon Berghan (for Sordoni 53), JP du Preez (for Gray 61), Lewis Bean (for Manjezi 40), Cameron Neild, George Horne (for Price 61).
Ref: Sam Grove-White (SRU)