Duhan van der Merwe will have another opportunity to regain his form and assert his position for Scotland after being cleared to participate in Edinburgh’s final URC fixture prior to the November internationals against Benetton on Saturday.
The towering winger had to leave the field due to a dislocated finger just 18 minutes into his return from an ankle injury during their 31-10 home victory over the Lions last Friday.
However, having been included in Scotland’s roster for the November Nations Championship despite limited playing time, Van der Merwe will be eager for a more impactful performance at the Stadio Monigo, just one week before Scotland goes up against New Zealand in their first of three scheduled matches at Murrayfield next month, with Australia and Japan following thereafter.
“He’s looking well,” stated Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt. “He trained with Scotland earlier this week, just like the other internationals, and he’ll be with us today. He’ll get back into the swing of things quite quickly and he’s looking forward to having another chance. It didn’t last long on Friday night.”
Darcy Graham, another wing, who was sidelined during the Lions match due to a tight calf, has not been released by Scotland, even though he has only participated in one 60-minute match thus far this season, against Toulon on 16 October.
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Benetton
Edinburgh
Everitt disclosed that Graham “hasn’t quite recovered” from his calf issue sufficiently enough to be considered by Edinburgh, but is expected to be fit if called upon by Scotland against the All Blacks.
“He is with Scotland at this time, so it’s best for him in light of the impending Test matches, should he be selected, that he doesn’t play this week,” Everitt noted. “We have individuals in form within our club currently and we’re ready to support them.”
Another player released by Scotland is flanker Liam McConnell, implying that the 22-year-old talent may not be in Gregor Townsend’s thoughts for a starting position against New Zealand, despite an impressive beginning to the season.
“It’s fantastic to have Liam back,” said Everitt. “He took a break a couple of weeks ago, and he’s a player who is in form at the moment. He is pivotal for us in the lineout, and he’s certainly one of the standout loose-forwards in Scotland.”
Prop Alec Hepburn returns to loosehead after missing the last three matches due to a concussion, while Harris Morris moves up from the bench to start at hooker, with Pierre Schoeman and hooker Ewan Ashman both retained by Scotland in advance of their match with the All Blacks.
Flanker Freddy Douglas is also back at openside after being absent from the Lions match due to a concussion.
Douglas, who leads the URC charts for turnovers with eight in three matches to date, was considered unfortunate – similar to No.8 and captain Magnus Bradbury – not to secure a spot in Scotland’s Nations Championship squad.
Veteran lock Grant Gilchrist and rising youngsters like prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and scrum-half Hector Patterson were also left out, with only five Edinburgh players included in Townsend’s 37-man squad.
However, Everitt has encouraged those who were omitted to uphold their current high standards, given the likelihood of injuries leading to further opportunities as the international window unfolds.
“They’re doing well, they understand their positions, and they’re aware that there’s room for growth in their game, which I’m sure the Scotland coaches have communicated to them,” he said.
“Freddy [Douglas] is someone who consistently goes about his work effectively, and I believe he’s eager to deliver a strong performance because November will bring opportunities. Injuries are a part of the game, and those who have returned to us now have the chance to demonstrate their worth for selection going forward in November.
“Maggie [Bradbury] is a fighter and has encountered this situation before. He has performed well for us. There are certainly diverse opinions regarding what is essential at the international level of rugby, and that’s perfectly fine. I’m confident that this has been communicated to him.
“For him, the goal is to continue performing at the high level he has been. Occasionally, the player who is actively participating is in a more favorable position than the player holding bags at Oriam [Scotland’s training base].”
This creates an opportunity for Edinburgh, the unexpected early leaders of the URC, to make strides towards achieving a historic fifth consecutive win at the beginning of the season, having matched their previous best start from 2015-16 when they won their initial four matches in the former Pro12.
“I’m thrilled that they’re all available, which enables us to maintain continuity, making training and preparation more manageable,” Everitt remarked. “However, the message to them is that there are opportunities, and they must continue pushing for selection.
“It’s also crucial for the younger players to comprehend their standing and the volume of matches they’ve played at the highest level. I refer to EPCR and Champions Cup as well as URC.
“At times, it can be challenging for a young player just to break in because experience at the international level is incredibly valuable. Some may assess form and conclude that this player performs better than that one in the short term. But ultimately, one must deliver at the premier level, and experienced players are often prioritized.”
Additional alterations on the Edinburgh bench see Callum Hunter-Hill replace Marshall Sykes as second-row cover, fly-half Ross Thompson, who has not yet played this season, taking over from Cammy Scott, and hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty added to the replacements.
Edinburgh narrowly secured a 15-14 victory in their last encounter in Treviso earlier this January after suffering defeats at Stadio Monigo in the four previous seasons of the URC. Wayne Pivac’s side currently stands 15th in the standings, following an initial draw with Dragons and three close losses, including last week’s 24-20 home defeat against Glasgow.
“I believed they were unfortunate to lose that match,” Everitt added. “They were leading throughout until the final moments, presenting a good challenge for us regarding our resilience away from home. It’s part of our development to improve performance during away games.
“Entering the first match against Ulster, our group was self-assured in our ability to secure wins on the road. I’m genuinely pleased. I wouldn’t have anticipated four straight victories, but [achieving a fifth] is certainly attainable.
“We have a good mix of youth and experience. What’s advantageous for us right now is the core of our team, the individuals who train here every day and perhaps aren’t receiving those Scotland selections, alongside the youngsters emerging, are stepping up. They’re complicating our selection decisions significantly, which is excellent for our future as a club.”
Edinburgh XV v Benetton: 15 Piers O’Conor; 14 Geordie Gwynn, 13 Matt Currie (co-capt), 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Harris Morris, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4 Glen Young, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Liam McConnell, 7 Freddy Douglas, 8 Magnus Bradbury (co-capt).
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Tom Currie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Harry Paterson.
