RETURN OF DICKINSON IS A BIG BOOST, SAYS HODGE
SIx months on from his last appearance on a rugby pitch and Alasdair Dickinson is getting ready for a European Challenge Cup clash against Stade Francais tonight.
It has been a long journey to full fitness for the loose-head, who had been injured after just two minutes of Scotland’s game against Japan in June. What looked innocuous was a hamstring torn from the bone, requiring re-attachment and a long recovery period.
Dickinson has had to witness the peaks and troughs of Edinburgh’s season so far from the touchlines. Tonight, he gets the opportunity to right matters in a front row without the talents of WP Nel.
‘It’s always good to have someone with Dicko’s experience and knowledge available again,’ said interim coach Duncan Hodge. ‘He is a good leader and having him on the pitch will give us a big boost.
‘I know it is a big ask for him. He’s not played since the Japan game, which was around six months ago.
‘Pitching Dicko straight back into the team is no reflection on how Allan Dell has played because he’s been absolutely magnificent.’
The game against Stade Francais is equally important for scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne who is starting back-to-back games for the first time this season as he struggles to find form.
Yet Hodge was impressed by the way he played in the Guinness Pro12 defeat to Ospreys last weekend and said: ‘He played well last week against a big, physical team and he will provide a different threat to the Stade defence tonight.
‘It’s a really hard situation with regards to selection with three No9s at the club as all are top quality. Sean Kennedy is on the bench and Nathan Fowles is unlucky to miss out this weekend.’
Hodge has made five changes to the team that lost to Ospreys. Hamish Watson returns for his first game after a successful international break at No 7 while Phil Burleigh and Mike Allen come in to fill the centre positions.
‘The players have shown a real determination this week to try and rectify some of the problems we have seen in our last couple of performances and we all want to see an improvement against Stade Francais.’
Hodge added: ‘I get as frustrated as the players when results go against us. I have been in charge for seven games. Can we change everything in seven games? I doubt it.
‘At this level you don’t see any team win every game during the season. It is about consistency of performance.’ EDINBURGH: Kinghorn; Hoyland, Allen, Burleigh, Helu; Weir, Hidalgo-Clyne; Dickinson, McInally, McCallum, Toolis, Gilchrist (c), Mata, Watson, Bradbury REPLACEMENTS: Ford, Dell, Berghan, McKenzie, Du Preez, Kennedy, Tovey, Bryce