Edinburgh Rugby welcome back big hitters in blended team for URC return

The capital side welcome Welsh opposition to the capital after a month of inactivity due to the Quilter Nations Series. And Everitt is able to welcome back flanker Ben Muncaster for his 50th appearance after a spell on the sidelines due to injury, while some Scotland players are parachuted back into club action five days on from featuring in the 56-0 win over Tonga.

Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe is handed a start as well as loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and second row Grant Gilchrist, while No 8 Magnus Bradbury is on the bench. Everitt hopes their experience will rub off on a number of younger players, particularly in the backline, with Findlay Thomson and Lewis Wells among those selected.

“There is a good balance between youth and experience for the squad for this weekend, with a few of our younger guys getting an opportunity to shine in front of a big home crowd alongside our more experienced campaigners,” said Everitt.

“Ospreys are a side that fight for everything, so we’ll need to bring a huge amount of energy to the game on Saturday night. Someone that always does that for us is Ben Muncaster, and I’m excited to see him run out for his 50th appearance for the club.”

Muncaster has impressed for Edinburgh as a back row and was unfortunate to miss out on a Scotland call-up after tearing ankle ligaments against Munster back in September. “We’re back at the Hive and we’ve got to have a statement win,” said the 24-year-old. He forms a youthful back-row alongside recent Scotland debutant Liam McConnell (blindside flanker) and number 8 Tom Currie, both of whom are 21.

There is a first home starts to two promising players in hooker Harri Morris, 24 – who recently made his Scotland debut against the USA – and Edinburgh Rugby academy centre Findlay Thomson, 21.

Ever-present continues at full-back

Wes Goosen continues to be ever-present at fullback, starting in the back-three alongside Van der Merwe, and youngster Wells, who scored last time out against Cardiff. Everitt makes one change in the centres, with academy centre Thomson replacing the injured James Lang at inside centre, starting alongside Piers O’Conor.

Ross Thompson makes his first start of the season at stand-off, partnering scrum-half Ben Vellacott, who returns to the side after missing out on Cardiff due to the birth of his child.

In the pack, hooker Morris makes his first Hive Stadium start alongside seasoned campaigners Paul Hill (tighthead prop) and Pierre Schoeman (loosehead) in the front row. Lock Callum Hunter-Hill earns his first start since returning to the club in the summer, combining with double centurion Grant Gilchrist, who skippers the side.

On the bench, tighthead prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (19) could make his professional debut, while scrum-half Conor McAlpine (21) is set for his first minutes at home for the capital club.

Edinburgh sit 11th in the URC standings on nine points after four matches and will be eager to atone for a sore 20-19 defeat by Cardiff last time out. Ospreys are two points worse off in 14th place.

Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys teams

Match details: Saturday, November 29, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh. KO 5.30pm.

Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Lewis Wells, Piers O’Conor, Findlay Thomson, Duhan van der Merwe, Ross Thompson, Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman, Harri Morris, Paul Hill, Callum Hunter-Hill, Grant Gilchrist (capt), Liam McConnell, Ben Muncaster, Tom Currie. Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Boan Venter, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Marshall Sykes, Magnus Bradbury, Conor McAlpine, Cammy Scott, Harry Paterson.

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Phil Cokanasiga, Iestyn Hopkins, Jack Walsh (co-capt), Luke Davies, Cameron Jones, Sam Parry (co-capt), Tom Botha, Ryan Smith, Huw Sutton, Lewis Lloyd, Gwilym Evans, Ross Moriarty. Replacements: Efan Daniel, Steffan Thomas, Kian Hire, Lewis Jones, Will Greatbanks, Scott Whitlock, Luke Morgan, Harri Houston.

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU).