Edinburgh V Kings

Makes his debut!

Scotland international centre Mark Bennett will make his eagerly anticipated debut against Southern Kings at Myreside tomorrow night (Friday 5 January, kick-off 7.35pm).

Head coach Richard Cockerill has made five changes to the side that faced Glasgow Warriors in last weekend’s 1872 Cup fixture at Scotstoun.

Dougie Fife is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-three. The winger – who touched down against Southern Kings in last month’s fixture in Port Elizabeth – joins Duhan van der Merwe on the wing, whilst Blair Kinghorn keeps his place at full back.

In the midfield, 20-times capped Scotland international centre Mark Bennett makes his first appearance for the club since joining in the summer, having fully recovered from a knee injury suffered in last year’s Six Nations. The 24-year-old is joined in the centre by the experienced Phil Burleigh.

In the front row, prop Jordan Lay gets the nod at loosehead and packs down alongside Murray McCallum and hooker Stuart McInally, who once again captains the side.

The dynamic pairing of Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist form the second row, whilst Magnus Bradbury returns to the starting XV to link up with Hamish Watson and Cornell du Preez in the back row.

On his selection, Cockerill said: “Mark has worked incredibly hard to return from injury, so we’re delighted that he’s able to make his first start for the club in front of our supporters at Myreside.

“Southern Kings are a dangerous side in attack, and they will be well-rested having had a few week’s break over the festive period. It'll be a tough game, but we're looking forward to getting back to Myreside and putting in a good performance, and one that keeps us looking up the table."



Edinburgh team to face Southern Kings in the Guinness PRO14 at Myreside on Friday 5 January (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on BBC ALBA





15. Blair Kinghorn (57)



14. Dougie Fife (95)

13. Mark Bennett *

12. Phil Burleigh (68)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (5)



10. Jaco van der Walt (5)

9. Nathan Fowles (47)



1. Jordan Lay (1)

2. Stuart McInally (113) CAPTAIN

3. Murray McCallum (30)

4. Ben Toolis (80)

5. Grant Gilchrist (111)

6. Magnus Bradbury (40)

7. Hamish Watson (79)

8. Cornell du Preez (94)



Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton (4) 17. Elliot Millar-Mills (1) 18. Matt Shields (4) 19. Fraser McKenzie (92) 20. Viliame Mata (25) 21. Sean Kennedy (57) 22. Chris Dean (56) 23. Damien Hoyland (55)

Can't fooking wait to see Bennett play again, cracking player.

Delighted to see Bradbury start again, hasn't had a lot of game-time since his time on the naughty step.

Down to the bare bones at prop, what's the deal with Marfo right now?

Not sure about Lay starting, he was rubbish at the scrum last week and he will be up against De Klerk who is a very good prop. Would have preferred same front row whcich started last week.

Must win game this one, preferably with 5 points.

Yeah we're not even at the bare bones for prop, there's no bones...! I'll get my coat.

To be fair to Lay he had just got off the plane having not played in ages, and was up against competent Glasgow props. The way the Kings play I can't imagine scrummaging will make much of a difference to this game!

Marfo has a back strain which initially was just meant to keep him out the 1872 - hopefully they're just being cautious.

We really should be winning this and with a BP quite comfortably - here's hoping.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yeah we're not even at the bare bones for prop, there's no bones...! I'll get my coat.

To be fair to Lay he had just got off the plane having not played in ages, and was up against competent Glasgow props. The way the Kings play I can't imagine scrummaging will make much of a difference to this game!

Marfo has a back strain which initially was just meant to keep him out the 1872 - hopefully they're just being cautious.

We really should be winning this and with a BP quite comfortably - here's hoping.

Don't ever say that again, have you not been watching Edinburgh over the last 4 seasons?

That said, I've been really impressed by Edinburgh this season and hopefully getting nilled last week will give them a point to prove this weekend.  The nucleus of the pack is really coming together with McInally, Gilchrist, Toolis & Watson all in great form.

Adding a player of Bennett's quality to the back-line is fantastic, with Kinghorn & VD Merwe there's genuine threat out-wide.

Ha, yes I've been watching Edinburgh through the thick and thin (mainly thin)!

I'd like to think we are a better team now and as fans shouldn't be fearful of losing against the worst team in the league, a team that we pumped away from home. I'm sure Cockers will have the players in a good mindset and they won't be turning up thinking they've won before kickoff.

Have faith! Although a small part of me is still fearful that we are still going to make heavy weather of this...

As an aside, I'm surprised Bennett hasn't been given some amateur club action before his return - you can do all the training in the world but it is a huge step up to go straight into a professional game after almost a year out.

RDW_Scotland wrote:As an aside, I'm surprised Bennett hasn't been given some amateur club action before his return - you can do all the training in the world but it is a huge step up to go straight into a professional game after almost a year out.

Maybe they didn't want him running around on some miserably muddy pitch in mid-winter.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yeah we're not even at the bare bones for prop, there's no bones...! I'll get my coat.

To be fair to Lay he had just got off the plane having not played in ages, and was up against competent Glasgow props. The way the Kings play I can't imagine scrummaging will make much of a difference to this game!

Marfo has a back strain which initially was just meant to keep him out the 1872 - hopefully they're just being cautious.

We really should be winning this and with a BP quite comfortably - here's hoping.

You are quite right, jury still out on Lay and i will give him the benefit of the doubt...

Though i'm relatively certain anyone of Whyte, Cosgrove or even Shiells could have got the job done instead.

FYI. Game is on Alba tonight at 19:25

The unwashed is also on Alba the morn (but they don't even have a thread yet)

Quite like Hastings commentating but surely they could give him Peter Wright for a bit banter?

Sole commentator is a tough gig

10 minutes gone and we haven't touched the ball!

Why kick it away Fowles when we had the first phases of possession in 10 minutes??

Edinburgh have given away 7 penalties in 14 minutes

Great kick from Kinghorn to get them up there. Is SHC fit?

Loved Duncies' comment there, "That was potentially a penalty there for Glas....Er Embra."

SHC has just become a father apparently!

Really wet and muddy conditions - I might have to revise my BP prediction...

Dean on for Burleigh so looks like Bennett will have to play 80

VDM bumping off several players!

Thats a lucky try after that shamble of a lineout!

You never see grant Gilchrist and Grado in the same room.

Kinghorn's lines are sublime. He just ghosts passed folk

Assuming the try is given, that's a good score!

Edinburgh need to turn the screw now - shows if we can hold onto the ball we'll score

Edinburgh really ought to get a bonus point. VDM, Bennett and Watson are having a competition to see who can cause the most missed tackles.

Lineout has been crap - I'm not a forward but never understand why they go to the tail in wet conditions.

Bennett's hands taking a while getting up to speed!

Edinburgh's scrum going well - McCallum for Scotland!

Well not the best of halfs but the conditions haven't helped. 2 more tries us very much achievable though.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh's scrum going well - McCallum for Scotland!

Hopefully not, Edinburgh needs him.

Though he has outplayed Berghan this season!

We're making a proper Glasgow of this game!

The kings really are rubbish.

Patient play to get the 3rd try.

I've been impressed with Lay - he's scrummaged well and is a willing carrier.

Kinghorn is a different class tonight!

Horrific weather now - not what you want when chasing a BP

RDW_Scotland wrote:
I've been impressed with Lay - he's scrummaged well and is a willing carrier.

Yeah, much better from him, maybe wasn't used to a plastic pitch last week.

4th try - job done

wow what a drive under the post! think i have never seen that lol

Probably a testament of how rubbish Kings are though!

Right. Get all the SQ boys off now

Well job done but most importantly no injuries! I thought kinghorn and Dean were superb and Bennett looked confident in his debut.

Difficult to tell really because the kings were bloody awful.

Bennett as motm? Was Kinghorn for me!

tigertattie wrote:Bennett as motm? Was Kinghorn for me!

Agreed - I think Weir was just being nice to his pal!

Bennett did ok on a comeback game after a very long break but was never MoM. Kinghorn or any of the forwards for me, I actually thought McCallam did pretty well and could well be playing himself into the international squad given the injury list.

All in all a decent 5 point for Edinburgh in what was about as bad a night to play a game of rugby that could be imagined.

It was 20 degrees when the Kings left SA. I bet they questioned the sanity of people who play winter rugby in the northern hemisphere!

Really enjoyed the game last night and thought Edinburgh played reasonably well.

Impressed by the scrum (thought they were lucky on a couple calls) and the driving maul towards the end was great.  Big performances from McInally, Toolis, Gilchrist & Watson as usual.

Du Preez just drifts out of the game too often and Bradbury struggled to get into the game or carry much ball.

Vd Walt seems an astute signing, doesn't do any exceptional but keeps the team moving in the right direction.

Excited about the Dean & Bennett partnership, impressed how sharp and keen Bennett looked after so long out, especially with Merwe & Kinghorn outside them causing constant problems.

Hoyland's face towards the end was a picture, he looked so glum and forlorn but I suppose you would be if you'd been replaced on the bench by a second/back-row.

I don’t know who else was at the game from here, but it’s a hard to describe how poor the conditions were for playing in. The vast amounts of rain pre kick off ensured the pitch was a total state, and the cold and hail really hammered home the sh*t conditions.

Nel was chatting pre kick off in the club house, how the Kings players would have left 40 degree heat, that must have been a huge shock to the system for them coming over to that.

In terms of the game, it was professional enough, after the first 15 – 20 mins when we finally got into the game. Kinghorn was superb again and is really developing into a very good 15, he seems to have cut down the errors that hindered his early form, and I think that probably is largely down to Cockers. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s included in the Scotland training squad for the 6 nations, probably unlikely to play at this stage, but I think he’s earned a chance to be involved in the wider squad at least. Either him or Watson should have been MoTM, but clearly it was chosen due to Bennett being out so long and making his debut.

Not sure what happened to Burliegh in terms of his injury as I was too far away from it, but hopefully nothing too serious.

EWT Spoons wrote:I don’t know who else was at the game from here, but it’s a hard to describe how poor the conditions were for playing in.  The vast amounts of rain pre kick off ensured the pitch was a total state, and the cold and hail really hammered home the sh*t conditions.

Nel was chatting pre kick off in the club house, how the Kings players would have left 40 degree heat, that must have been a huge shock to the system for them coming over to that.

In terms of the game, it was professional enough, after the first 15 – 20 mins when we finally got into the game.  Kinghorn was superb again and is really developing into a very good 15, he seems to have cut down the errors that hindered his early form, and I think that probably is largely down to Cockers.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s included in the Scotland training squad for the 6 nations, probably unlikely to play at this stage, but I think he’s earned a chance to be involved in the wider squad at least.  Either him or Watson should have been MoTM, but clearly it was chosen due to Bennett being out so long and making his debut.  

Not sure what happened to Burliegh in terms of his injury as I was too far away from it, but hopefully nothing too serious.

Your best pal! How's his injury coming on?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:I don’t know who else was at the game from here, but it’s a hard to describe how poor the conditions were for playing in.  The vast amounts of rain pre kick off ensured the pitch was a total state, and the cold and hail really hammered home the sh*t conditions.

Nel was chatting pre kick off in the club house, how the Kings players would have left 40 degree heat, that must have been a huge shock to the system for them coming over to that.

In terms of the game, it was professional enough, after the first 15 – 20 mins when we finally got into the game.  Kinghorn was superb again and is really developing into a very good 15, he seems to have cut down the errors that hindered his early form, and I think that probably is largely down to Cockers.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s included in the Scotland training squad for the 6 nations, probably unlikely to play at this stage, but I think he’s earned a chance to be involved in the wider squad at least.  Either him or Watson should have been MoTM, but clearly it was chosen due to Bennett being out so long and making his debut.  

Not sure what happened to Burliegh in terms of his injury as I was too far away from it, but hopefully nothing too serious.

Your best pal! How's his injury coming on?

HA! He wasn't chatting to me, he was doing a pre-game interview with the announcer, but he did mention the injury (or more specifically it was asked of him), he wouldn't be drawn on it in any detail, but said it would be around 4-5 weeks, but that it's very much down to the medical staff.

I think Cockerill might have instructed the players and the media department to stop talking about injuries and potential return dates. The injury updates stopped appearing at the bottom of the teamsheet shortly after he came in, and players seem to not to want to commit to a return date or even a predicted date now. Nel seemed incredibly reluctant to give any sort of timeline or details, like he knew he'd get into trouble if he discussed it. Could be wrong and reading too much into it, but certainly seems like there is a rule of some kind in place. Not complaining or suggesting this is a bad thing, just an observation.

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:I don’t know who else was at the game from here, but it’s a hard to describe how poor the conditions were for playing in.  The vast amounts of rain pre kick off ensured the pitch was a total state, and the cold and hail really hammered home the sh*t conditions.

Nel was chatting pre kick off in the club house, how the Kings players would have left 40 degree heat, that must have been a huge shock to the system for them coming over to that.

In terms of the game, it was professional enough, after the first 15 – 20 mins when we finally got into the game.  Kinghorn was superb again and is really developing into a very good 15, he seems to have cut down the errors that hindered his early form, and I think that probably is largely down to Cockers.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s included in the Scotland training squad for the 6 nations, probably unlikely to play at this stage, but I think he’s earned a chance to be involved in the wider squad at least.  Either him or Watson should have been MoTM, but clearly it was chosen due to Bennett being out so long and making his debut.  

Not sure what happened to Burliegh in terms of his injury as I was too far away from it, but hopefully nothing too serious.

Your best pal! How's his injury coming on?

HA!   He wasn't chatting to me, he was doing a pre-game interview with the announcer, but he did mention the injury (or more specifically it was asked of him), he wouldn't be drawn on it in any detail, but said it would be around 4-5 weeks, but that it's very much down to the medical staff.

I think Cockerill might have instructed the players and the media department to stop talking about injuries and potential return dates. The injury updates stopped appearing at the bottom of the teamsheet shortly after he came in, and players seem to not to want to commit to a return date or even a predicted date now.  Nel seemed incredibly reluctant to give any sort of timeline or details, like he knew he'd get into trouble if he discussed it.  Could be wrong and reading too much into it, but certainly seems like there is a rule of some kind in place.  Not complaining or suggesting this is a bad thing, just an observation.

That'll be because of the restraining order yeah?

That and the large blokes in black suits talking into their sleeves and pointing at me.

EWT Spoons wrote:That and the large blokes in black suits talking into their sleeves and pointing at me.

that'll confuse the Westies. Sleeves are normally only used for nasal snot removal!