If the advent of a new year provides fresh opportunity for all then what chance Dave Cherry donning a Scotland shirt again in 2025? Stranger things have surely happened.
Cherry was an integral part of Gregor Townsend’s plans at last year’s World Cup, coming off the bench in the loss to South Africa.
Then came his downfall, literally, as he reportedly tumbled down a flight of stairs on a day off, suffered a concussion and was sent home. Fifteen months later and Cherry hasn’t featured in a Scotland squad since, never mind taking to the field.
It is a curious state of affairs partially explained by the emergence of his Edinburgh team-mates Ewan Ashman and Patrick Harrison, who have pushed their way into the picture. But given the retirement of Stuart McInally and Fraser Brown, and with George Turner decanting to Japan, Cherry’s experience would surely have proved handy at some point.
The 33-year-old has mostly kept his counsel in the intervening period but emerged following Edinburgh’s 1872 Cup win over Glasgow to insist that he hasn’t quietly slipped into international retirement.
There is an undoubted pecking order now at hooker and Cherry is at the back of it but, should the opportunity arise, the Edinburgh-born player revealed he would jump at the chance to pull on a Scotland jersey once again.
Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry is applauded by rival Glasgow stars after Murrayfield win
Cherry was a big presence for the capital side as they salvaged pride after last week’s loss
Cherry makes a big hit on Glasgow’s Scotland fly-half Tom Jordan as Warriors are closed out
Asked if he had given up on a recall, Cherry replied: ‘Not at all. I want to make it clear I am still going and still available. My desire to get back in and play for Scotland is still there.
‘(Townsend) has basically said just keep doing what you’re doing, and that’s about it. I’m just focused on myself and my own performance and trying to put my best foot forward. Hopefully I get selected.’
More performances like Saturday’s — both individually and as a collective — won’t do his chances any harm. Edinburgh smothered Glasgow’s attacking intent, restricting one of rugby’s most potent attacks to just the one penalty try late in the contest.
Cherry, on his 100th club appearance, was at the heart of the battle and ought to have had an assist to his name too late in the first half when Luke Crosbie spilled his pass right on the Glasgow line.
Edinburgh still aren’t getting the most out of their attacking resources — Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham barely saw the ball once again — and they still have to show they can perform outside of the capital. This, though, was a defiant response to their Hampden humbling the previous weekend.
‘Clarity through the week led to intent in the game,’ added Cherry. ‘It showed out there, it was far clearer what we were doing. Our defence was structured and that kind of led to the win.
‘Our discipline and turnovers were spot on. We were only two and two (penalties and turnovers) at the half and that made a big difference to our game this week. We were able to control Glasgow better and their defence, not give them as many entries. I think that was the ultimate winning of the match, our defence.
‘I was discussing it with the lads afterwards. It felt more than a 10-7 scoreline. There were opportunities and both sides didn’t convert. But it’s four URC points and that’s the big one for us. We needed to get back on the horse and we have done that.’
Cherry last featured for Scotland at the 2023 World Cup against South Africa
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has seen his options at hooker diminish recently
It was the ideal way for Cherry to bring up his landmark appearance, even if Edinburgh never really threatened to overturn the 19-point first-leg deficit to lift the trophy.
‘I’m very pleased (to become a club centurion),’ he beamed. ‘As a little boy, I never thought I would reach that landmark so I am absolutely delighted. But the bigger picture is about the team and their performance, rather than my own.
‘Our home form has been good but we need to take that on the road. Playing Glasgow, you always want to win those games — a big crowd and a big occasion for myself. I am delighted with the team’s performance. We went in believing we could get those 19 points. Ultimately we didn’t, but we will take the win and the four points.’
The late yellow card shown to Harrison saw Cherry summoned back from the stand for another 10-minute shift which he wasn’t hugely enthusiastic about.
‘Well… we were winning and the clock has got to be run down,’ he added. ‘They said: “Take your time” so I was more than happy to do that.’
Kyle Steyn says Glasgow will head into their New Year break licking their wounds but determined to make amends when they return.
Steyn raises a smile after his side’s aggregate win, but it was all too much for Zander Fagerson
Steyn did his best to look excited as he lifted the 1872 Cup but, having just lost the match, if not the tie, to Edinburgh, it was hard for the captain to get too enthusiastic about it.
It was deja vu for the visitors who also lost the Murrayfield leg last year only to rebound and go on to win the URC title. And Steyn hoped this setback could similarly provide a springboard when Warriors return for Champions Cup matches against Racing 92 and Harlequins.
‘Yeah, it’s very frustrating,’ said the Scotland winger. ‘Fair enough to Edinburgh, I thought they stood up pretty well and did well to slow down our ball. We did struggle to find some momentum in attack but I thought we created enough opportunities to get the job done and didn’t close enough of them out.
‘The problem was our ruck speed. It becomes pretty easy to defend once our ball was that slow. They’ve done well there and we’ll take our lessons.
‘We’ve had loads of changes in pretty much every game and I’m really proud of the boys, especially up front. We’ve had four or five changes every week and whoever has played has stepped up. I think it’s disappointing to end this year, for what it has been, with a game like this, but that will keep the hunger going for next year.
‘We’ve got Racing at home and we’ve got to go down to Quins after losing narrowly down there last year. There are motivations aplenty and the way the first two rounds have gone, every game now is going to be important.’
