Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt welcomes the return of six Scotland internationals for this Friday night’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash against Dragons RFC at Hive Stadium (28 March, kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports.
Star wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe start for the capital side, having both scored twice in the recent Guinness Six Nations.
Everitt also has his pack bolstered with the return of prop Pierre Schoeman, lock Grant Gilchrist, back-row Jamie Ritchie, and hooker Dave Cherry – the latter of whom is named in the replacements.
On the clash, Everitt said: “Dragons are a dangerous side, they win a lot of turnovers and can be really efficient and hurt you in the 22. They gave Ulster a hard time on Saturday, so it’s not a team we can take lightly.
“Every game in the URC has been tight in the last couple of months, so we have to focus on ourselves and make sure we can execute as accurately as we can.”
Wes Goosen starts at full-back alongside Graham and van der Merwe in the back three, having featured in every minute of the capital campaign thus far.
Everitt names a new-look midfield partnership, with James Lang shifting to inside-centre, and Matt Currie moving back into the centres in the 13 jersey.
The half-back partnership is unchanged, with co-captain Ben Vellacott starting at nine alongside stand-off Ross Thompson.
Schoeman joins an all-changed front row at loosehead prop, alongside Scotland internationals Paddy Harrison (hooker) and D’arcy Rae (tighthead). Paul Hill misses out through injury while Ewan Ashman is rested.
Co-captain Gilchrist replaces the rested Sam Skinner, having penned a new one-year contract extension during the week, partnering Marshall Sykes in the second-row.
Ritchie is the sole change in the loose-forwards, with Hamish Watson retaining the seven jersey, while Magnus Bradbury continues his run at number 8.
Edinburgh Rugby side to face Dragons RFC at Hive Stadium in the BKT United Rugby Championship Friday 28 March, kick-off 7.35pm – live on Premier Sports.
15. Wes Goosen (48)
14. Darcy Graham (75)
13. Matt Currie (55)
12. James Lang (67)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (102)
10. Ross Thompson (17)
9. Ben Vellacott (72) CO-CAPTAIN
1. Pierre Schoeman (126)
2. Paddy Harrison (27)
3. D’arcy Rae (19)
4. Marshall Sykes (79)
5. Grant Gilchrist (214) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Jamie Ritchie (124)
7. Hamish Watson (171)
8. Magnus Bradbury (125)
Replacements
16. Dave Cherry (101)
17. Boan Venter (83)
18. Javan Sebastian (23)
19. Glen Young (44)
20. Freddy Douglas (3)
21. Ali Price (32)
22. Cammy Scott (14)
23. Ross McCann (9)
Unavailable: Ewan Ashman (rest), Mark Bennett (quad), Emiliano Boffellli (hamstring), Connor Boyle (knee), Luke Crosbie (pec), Tom Dodd (shoulder), Ben Healy (knee), Paul Hill (neck), Jamie Hodgson (tricep), Ben Muncaster (concussion), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Matt Scott (neck), Sam Skinner (rest), Mosese Tuipulotu (suspended), Lewis Wells (ankle).
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