Gilchrist: We’re not going away

• 17 Oct 2024
• Features

When the full-time whistle went on Saturday, Edinburgh Rugby co-captain Grant Gilchrist held a defiant gaze.

The lock, who crossed the whitewash in Saturday’s emphatic victory of DHL Stormers, undoubtedly felt a sense of both relief and pride that his side had bounced back and secured a much needed victory in front of the Hive Stadium faithful.

“We had all the answers in the room,” he said. “It was just about making sure we used [the Lions defeat] as motivation.”

“I didn’t feel like we were under pressure to a level which we couldn’t deal with or which was beyond us. But our job as always is to speak on the pitch on a Friday or Saturday.

“There’s nothing you can say after a performance like we had in Johannesburg. It was unacceptable. We were really hard internally.

“Everybody has a right to their keyboard and to write whatever they like. They seem to be pretty sharp on Edinburgh, which I actually quite enjoyed because it has brought a real edge to us. That’s an edge we’re going to need for the whole season.”

Gilchrist’s try on Saturday was his first at home since 2018, and followed on from his try the previous weekend at Emirates Airlines Park.

“My strike rate over the course of my career needs a bit of work,” laughed Gilchrist.

“But make hay while the sun shines eh? It’s not really in my job description but we’ve been doing a lot of pick-and-go work and getting in. If it’s something you can add to your game, I’m always looking for ways to improve. Long may it continue.”

With a number of senior locks out injured, Gilchrist has played the majority of minutes in the capital engine room.

Gilchrist isn’t complaining however and has relished the opportunity to step up as a senior player when the chips are down.

“I relish it. In big weeks for the club like last week, the senior guys have to stand up.

“We’ve got so much quality, so many you lads coming through, they just need the guidance and people with experience in leadership to stand up and give them the support to allow them to go and play with the freedom they can bring.

“And I relish that. I loved the whole week last week because these weeks make you a better person and a better player, a better character and you learn a lot.

“As a senior player, it is about telling guys: ‘I don’t want anyone else – I just want the best version of everyone – I want the best version of myself, the best Ben Muncaster, the best Paddy Harrison – I don’t them worrying about trying to save us all, they don’t need to save anything – look around and look at the team and do your job – and the week you are under pressure is a real privilege and a real chance for everyone to grow’.”

“I loved the way the boys stood up at the weekend, but it’s not going to go away – so we’re not going to go away.”

Looking ahead to Saturday night’s showdown with Cardiff Rugby, Gilchrist is determined to continue proving the doubters wrong.

“We started to [answer the critics on Saturday], but they’re going to turn up again this weekend and it’s about us proving everyone wrong every week from now until the end of the season,” he said.