ERONI Sau will play his last game for Edinburgh tomorrow against Scarlets in the Rainbow Cup, having been named as one of ten players who are leaving the squad at the end of the season. The Fijian winger has enjoyed some impressive outings of late, with his impact in the tackle being particularly notable, and leaves after two seasons in Richard Cockerill’s squad.
Scotland international prop Murray McCallum is also on his way at the end of the month, in his case after four years as a full-time pro. Of the other departures announced yesterday, however, most were already known to be moving on.
The ten are: Sau, McCallum, Simon Berghan, Andrew Davidson, Jamie Farndale, Andries Ferreira, Duhan van der Merwe, Ali Miller, Dan Nutton and Mike Willemse. They are joined by five others who have already left over the course of the season: Rory Darge, Matt Gordon, Nic Groom, Fraser McKenzie and Korie Winters.
With Van der Merwe and his fellow-Lion Hamish Watson rested for the trip to Wales along with three members of the Scotland Under-20 squad, Sau is just one of five players who keep their place from last week’s narrow defeat by Ulster. Blair Kinghorn again starts at full-back, while the others who hold on to their places are James Johnstone, Marshall Sykes and captain Jamie Ritchie. Of the newcomers, former Ayr and Scotland Sevens back is handed a debut at full-back, and Cammy Hutchison makes his second appearance at centre.
Neither Edinburgh nor Scarlets have anything to play for, but Cockerill insisted his players would be well motivated. “I don’t think it’s a dead rubber by any means for us,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity for guys to get good experience and put themselves in a good place for next season.”
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However, despite that assertion, the head coach said he would be keeping a weather eye on the England football team’s game against Croatia, which kicks off at 2pm, an hour after proceedings get under way in Llanelli. The former England international also suggested he might have to go into hiding if Scotland win at Wembley next Friday in the teams’ European Championship clash, and admitted he was not overly optimistic about his own country’s overall chances in the tournament.
“I might get the game on my phone in the coaches’ box and watch both at the same time,” he said. “We’ll see which one is more entertaining.
“But you know what it’s like – we’ll talk ourselves up, it’s coming home and all that. And then we’ll cock it up at some point along the way.
“The big one is on Friday, so I’ll need to meet up with my Scottish coaches and have a bit of banter around that. As long as England don’t lose to Scotland. Can you imagine the amount of shit I’m going to get if that happens?
“We can’t beat you at rugby, we can’t beat at cricket and can’t beat you at football. I’ll be going into hiding if we lose!”
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Edinburgh (v Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets, tomorrow, 1pm): K Rowe; J Blain, J Johnstone, C Hutchison, E Sau; B Kinghorn, H Pyrgos; P Schoeman, M Willemse, A Williams, M Sykes, J Hodgson, J Ritchie (captain), C Boyle, M Kunavula. Substitutes: D Cherry, B Venter, S Berghan, A Miller, L Crosbie, C Shiel, N Chamberlain, G Taylor.
Scarlets: T Rogers; R Conbeer, T Morgan, S Hughes, S Evans; D Jones, K Hardy; S Thomas, R Elias (captain), P Scholtz, J Helps, M Jones, B Thomson, J Morgan, U Cassiem. Substitutes: D Hughes, R Evans, S Lee, D Drake, I Rees, W Homer, S Costelow, J Roberts.
Referee: F Murphy (Ireland).
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