Scotland duo return for Scarlets showdown
Scotland internationalists Tom Brown and Murray McCallum return to Edinburgh’s starting XV as Head Coach Richard Cockerill makes just three changes to his team to face Scarlets at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 tomorrow night (Friday 2 November, kick-off 7.35pm).
The capped duo are selected in the starting line-up alongside Scotland Sevens squad member, Ally Miller, who makes his Edinburgh debut at openside flanker.
As the capital side look to secure their sixth straight victory at BT Murrayfield, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “It will be a challenge for us, but the only way for young players to get blooded and learn is by playing them.
“We’ve got to work hard with the players we’ve got, roll up our sleeves and prepare as well as we can to try and win on Friday night.
“That’s my job. I don’t think we have to lift the players – the players are motivated to win. We clearly weren’t good enough Zebre, but we’ve worked really hard this week and will leave everything out on the field come Friday night.”
In the back-three, Brown – who makes his first home appearance of the season – is joined on the opposite flank by Duhan van der Merwe, as Dougie Fife keeps his place at fullback.
An unchanged centre pairing sees Chris Dean partnered by James Johnstone in midfield after setting up his side’s only try in last weekend’s Guinness PRO14 encounter against Zebre.
Edinburgh’s top points scorer, Simon Hickey (64 points in all competitions), is named at stand-off alongside Henry Pyrgos, who once again captains the side.
In the front-row, experienced hooker Ross Ford packs down alongside Pierre Schoeman and McCallum, whilst an unchanged second-row combination sees Jamie Hodgson and Callum Hunter-Hill both make the first home appearance of their careers.
The inclusion of debutant Miller is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-row as Luke Hamilton and Fijian international Bill Mata keep their place in starting XV.
Elsewhere, former Scotland U20 back-row, Lewis Wynne – who in July joined London Scottish from Glasgow Warriors on season-long loan – is named amongst the replacements and if involved will make his debut for the capital side.
Edinburgh team to face Scarlets at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday 2 November, kick-off 7.35pm – live on Premier Sports.
15. Dougie Fife (115)
14. Tom Brown (114)
13. James Johnstone (26)
12. Chris Dean (72)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (24)
10. Simon Hickey (8)
9. Henry Pyrgos (8) CAPTAIN
1. Pierre Schoeman (5)
2. Ross Ford (186)
3. Murray McCallum (43)
4. Jamie Hodgson (1)
5. Callum Hunter-Hill (3)
6. Luke Hamilton (7)
7. Ally Miller*
8. Bill Mata (44)
Replacements:
16. David Cherry (3); 17. Rory Sutherland (67); 18. Pietro Ceccarelli (1); 19. Callum Atkinson (1); 20. Lewis Wynne*; 21. Nathan Fowles (61); 22. Jason Baggott*; 23. Juan Pablo Socino (5)
*Edinburgh competitive debut
Unavailable due to international selection: Allan Dell; Stuart McInally; WP Nel; Ben Toolis; Jamie Ritchie; Hamish Watson; Blair Kinghorn; Simon Berghan; Grant Gilchrist; Darcy Graham.
Unavailable due to injury: Cameron Fenton; Fraser McKenzie; Lewis Carmichael; John Barclay; Magnus Bradbury; Senitiki Nayalo; Luke Crosbie; Jaco van der Walt; Matt Scott; Mark Bennett; Damien Hoyland
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