Edinburgh v Kings

​Stand-off Jaco van der Walt returns to the starting XV to make his 50th appearance for the capital club as Edinburgh Rugby make 11 changes for tomorrow night’s Guinness PRO14 Conference B clash against Southern Kings at BT Murrayfield (Saturday 4 January, kick-off 7.45pm) – live on Premier Sports.

A rotated backline sees Van der Walt partnered with Henry Pyrgos at half-back, with an all-new centre pairing of Matt Scott and James Johnstone selected in midfield. Fijian international Eroni Sau returns on the wing.

In the forward pack, loosehead prop Jamie Bhatti gets the nod alongside hooker Mike Willemse in the front-row, as Scotland international lock Lewis Carmichael starts to make his eighth appearance of the season.

A revamped back-row combination sees John Barclay return from injury to feature at openside flanker, with Magnus Bradbury and Nick Haining named at blindside flanker and No. 8 respectively.


Ahead of the match, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We were obviously delighted with the derby win last weekend, but as we’ve spoken about all week in training, it means nothing if we don’t turn up and perform against Southern Kings tomorrow night.

“We are proud of our unbeaten home record at BT Murrayfield and we want to keep it that way. We are playing with confidence and determination, and hopefully that continues as we face a really tough and much improved Kings side.

“We’ve made a number of changes to the team, but it is still an experienced squad who are more than capable of putting in a winning performance.

“We’re excited to be back in front of our home support at BT Murrayfield and we very much want to start 2020 off with a win.”

The inclusion of Sau on the wing is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-three as Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe are one again selected in the starting line-up.

Scotland star Scott – who enjoyed an impressive 24-minute appearance from the bench in last weekend’s 1872 Cup derby win – links-up with Johnstone in midfield, as scrum-half Pyrgos – who skippers the side – is paired with Van der Walt at half-back.

Hooker Willemse – who faces his former side – packs down alongside Scotland internationalists Bhatti and WP Nel in the front-row, with locks Carmichael and Grant Gilchrist paired in the second-row.

A back-row trio of Bradbury, Barclay and Haining complete the pack.



Edinburgh Rugby team to face Southern Kings at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14
Saturday 4 January, kick-off 7.45pm – live on Premier Sports


15. Blair Kinghorn (85)



14. Eroni Sau (6)

13. James Johnstone (46)

12. Matt Scott (90)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (51)



10. Jaco van der Walt (49)

9. Henry Pyrgos (32) CAPTAIN



1. Jamie Bhatti (9)

2. Mike Willemse (12)

3. WP Nel (136)

4. Lewis Carmichael (40)

5. Grant Gilchrist (144)

6. Magnus Bradbury (73)

7. John Barclay (8)

8. Nick Haining (6)



Replacements: 16. Dave Cherry (18) 17. Pierre Schoeman (34) 18. Simon Berghan (74) 19. Ben Toolis (117) 20. Luke Crosbie (33) 21. Charlie Shiel (12) 22. Simon Hickey (29) 23. Mark Bennett (31)

Unavailable: Fraser McKenzie, Chris Dean, Viliame Mata, Jamie Ritchie, Stuart McInally

Strong Edinburgh team but plenty rotation on the go. Bhatti gets a rare start to show he deserves a place in the Scotland team.

This really should be 5 points.

Good to see Haining back in the side. Not sure I’m convinced Barclay is an effective 7 these days but would like him to prove me wrong. Would like to see JJ hit form again, he’s shown a few flashes recently but hasn’t hit his form from last season yet. If Scott has a strong game again then it could be a useful partnership, JJ runs good support lines and Scott is good at breaking the line.

Its a strong side, should be way to good for the Kings, unless Edinbugh have one of those games!

I'd switch Crosbie for Barclay and Shiel for Pyrgos but we should win this with a bit to spare. Looks like sensible rotation.

I can't remember the last time Barclay played 7. Would at least have been in the Scarlets days, but he usually played 8 then.

Agreed that it would have been nice to see Crosbie start - it's a decent lack around him so it's not like we're short of experience.

Read an article the other day I think Sport24 saying that the Kings have been working on being better organised as a defence.

Edinburgh should win easily enough with their pack.
Think Munster will lose to Ulster so Edinburgh could be top at the end of the week.

Munster got a spanking at Ulster tonight, so Edinbufgh top of the table if they can deliver tomorrow!

No pressure then!

My money's on a non-BP win despite us completely dominating possession and territory, us all bemoaning Hodge as attack coach, the Edinburgh social media brigade say a wins a win and why is everyone saying bad things about the team the players all really tried hard etc etc

You might be right, but on a more serious note, this is a chance to step up. This conference is there to be won. These opportunities don't come aling very often and the stars do seem to be lining up for Edinburgh if the can take their opportunities!

Now that the annual slaughtering of the fake tanned hair gel wearers of the west has ended (for now), it’s nice to get back to supporting both teams.

Edinburgh have a great chance to go top of the table. Edinburgh being Edinburgh though will likely Richard Cockerill something up at some point though so it would be nice if the weegies could do their part for Scottish rugby and deny Benetton anything tomorrow to give Edinburgh a bit breathing space.

Tigertattie, careful now Which team are you not playing for? Can you not play for both sides? Surely that contravenes the salary cap, unless both of the teams are Sarries, then you can get paid twice for not playing.

RDW wrote:My money's on a non-BP win despite us completely dominating possession and territory, us all bemoaning Hodge as attack coach, the Edinburgh social media brigade say a wins a win and why is everyone saying bad things about the team the players all really tried hard etc etc

You forgot to mention Pyrgos taking 20 minutes out of the match by kicking possession away with a series of slow and poorly executed box kicks.....

I actually think we'll go well and get the BP win. Kinghorn, Duhan and Scott coming into this on good form.

Very scrappy so far - Edinburgh set piece not giving us the platform we need.

Slightly sluggish start for Edinburgh, Kings not planning to role over.

Edinburgh will need to work for this one.

Ref doesn't like our scrum. Could be a problem.

Not sure Kings are putting much effort into holding the scrum up but we're getting the blame.

Lovely try.

Edinburgh fast asleep.

Well that's the wake-up call!

That was not really in the plan!

Edinburgh need to get there act together now!

Well that's a red

Clear elbow there.

That's a yellow at least!

Straight red, hard to argue

Clear obvious red

I must say, I do think that's harsh.

Time for Edinburgh to wake up - this needs to be a humping now.

No excuses for Edinburgh now, a 5 pointer is required

funnyExiledScot wrote:I must say, I do think that's harsh.

Really??

An elbow from his non ball carrying arm to the neck so it's not even just a carrying accident - that was a red under the old rules never mind the new ones!

funnyExiledScot wrote:I must say, I do think that's harsh.

How? An elbow to the throat!

Just to clarify, I don't think the red is wrong, just that I think the offending player didn't mean to connect in that way. Careless certainly.

And Edinburgh score

7-5 Edinburgh

Silly penalty to give away. No need to be offside.

Edinburgh need to be patient and not try to force things - need to focus on solid set piece and minimal penalties and the tries will come.

No easy wins like that penalty.

Barclay! That was an open goal

Horrible mistake from Barclay. That's 7 points dropped, and any decent downside should gobble that up.

Goodness me, Edinburgh are making hard work of this. That should have been a try

Kings have taken their 13 off which is a strange decision - going to be loads of space out wide.

As Scotland learnt away to Wales when Hogg was sent off - always keep a full set of backs!

Small thing, but that should have been a scrum penalty to Edinburgh. Kings stood up to avoid being pushed back.

Edinburgh will win this and probably get 5 points, but Cockers will be furious about how sloppy they have been!

Scrum is becoming a liability. Can Bhatti scrummage at at? We really don't want a scrum yellow.

Ref really doesn't like our scrum. Bhatti's not doing his chances any good.

Frustrating thing for him is he's probably not even doing anything wrong - the ref just has it in for him!

Another stupid penalty. Why does Carmichael hold on?? Barclay could have had that.

Cockers will be going nuts.

Kings playing well - I fear for Edinburgh's safety if this continues to the halftime teamtalk.

Kings are also offside in midfield every ruck

Haining is very useful. Just keep the ball, up the intensity into contact and the chances will come.

Thank goodness we have Duhan. We need individuals like him with Hodge coaching the backs!

That's more like it!

Loads of space out wide - this could be a rout!