Grant Gilchrist also back in the squad for Challenge Cup opener
Darcy Graham has been backed to force his way into Scotland contention for next month’s Nations Championship fixtures after making a miracle return to the Edinburgh starting line-up.
However, he has confounded the original diagnosis and will play on the right wing for his club against Toulon in the European Challenge Cup on Friday night.
If he comes through unscathed, Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt sees no reason why Graham cannot be involved in Scotland’s autumn programme, which includes games against New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Murrayfield.
“If he gets through the next couple of games, yes, I'm sure he can [play for Scotland], if selected,” said Everitt.
No need for surgery
Graham is the Scotland men’s team’s all-time leading try-scorer, with 38 in 57 Test appearances. He scored seven last season for the national team, including a double in the stunning home win over France.
His earlier-than-expected return to play is a big boost for both club and country and came about when it was decided the arm injury could be treated without resorting to surgery.
“There were two options to go on with this injury,” explained Everitt. “One was surgical, which initially is what we thought would take place. And then he had a second option after many medical discussions that maybe rehab would be the way to go, and see if he gets his strength back within a few weeks, which has fortunately happened for us.
“So it is a relief for Darcy and obviously Edinburgh Rugby. And it's great to have a guy like that back in our team.”
Key player rested
Graham’s inclusion sees Malelili Satala shift from right wing to left, and Geordie Gwynn drops to the bench. It is one of two personnel changes made by Everitt. The other sees Tom Currie come into the starting side at blindside flanker in place of Liam McConnell who is being rested with an eye on his likely involvement with Scotland.
“The decision around Liam is around the load that he's carried and the load that he could carry into the November internationals, if selected,” said Everitt. “So giving a guy like Tom Currie, who has performed well in the Edinburgh shirt, an opportunity is great for us. It's great that we've got depth and the ability of a guy like Tom to come in.”
The coach added that fellow frontline back-rowers Magnus Bradbury and Freddy Douglas would also be rested at some point.
There is also a significant change on the bench for Edinburgh, with the return of Grant Gilchrist, the club’s longest serving player, who has also made a swift recovery from a bicep injury.
Edinburgh are looking to continue the fine form which has seen them win their opening three games in the United Rugby Championship, their best start to a season for 15 years. The focus now switches to Europe and the match against the three-time Champions Cup winners.
Edinburgh beat Toulon last season in the pool stage of the top-tier competition and the French side went on to reach the semi-finals. They signed Huw Jones in the summer from Glasgow Warriors but he is not in the squad to play Edinburgh. Fellow Scotland international Ben White will start at scrum-half and will captain the French side.
How Edinburgh Rugby will line up against RC Toulon
EPCR Challenge Cup, Pool 3, Hive Stadium, Friday, 8pm
Edinburgh: 15. Piers O’Conor; 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Matt Currie (co-capt), 12. Mosese Tuipulotu, 11. Malelili Satala; 10. James Grayson, 9. Hector Patterson; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4. Callum Hunter-Hill, 5. Glen Young, 6. Tom Currie, 7. Freddy Douglas, 8. Magnus Bradbury (co-capt). Replacements: 16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17. Jamie Stewart, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Grant Gilchrist, 20. Euan McVie, 21. Conor McAlpine, 22. Geordie Gwynn, 23. Rory McHaffie.
Toulon: 15. Melvyn Jaminet; 14. Setariki Tuicuvu, 13. Antoine Frisch, 12. Jérémy Sinzelle, 11. Apete Narogo; 10. Matéo Garcia, 9. Ben White (capt); 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3. Beka Gigashvili, 4. Swan Rebbadj, 5. Corentin Mezou, 6. Zach Mercer, 7. Esteban Abadie, 8. Patrick Tuifua. Replacements: 16. Teddy Baubigny, 17. Samuel Jean-Christophe, 18. Owen Sorhaindo, 19. Luciano Asevedo, 20. Lewis Ludlam, 21. Joe Quere Karaba, 22. Baptiste Serin, 23. Luka Keletaona.
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