COCKERILL WANTS GRAHAM TO SEIZE HIS CHANCE

IT has been quite the week for Darcy Graham. One of three youngsters invited to train with the Scotland squad ahead of the Six Nations, the Edinburgh full-back now has the opportunity to announce his talent against Stade Francais in the European Challenge Cup. The capital outfit are already safely through to the quarter-finals with five wins from five and the final Pool four clash in Paris provides Richard Cockerill with the opportunity to rest some of his big names while giving others the chance to shine. A number of regulars who will be heavily involved with Scotland in the Six Nations in February and March, like Stuart McInally, Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson, have been excused the trip. Full-back Blair Kinghorn, who will meet up with the Scotland squad for the first time tomorrow, also misses out to be able to rest a slight foot problem. As a result, Hawick product Graham comes into the starting XV in the No15 jersey. Along with Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie and Glasgow Warriors fly-half Adam Hastings, the 20-year-old will head into the Scotland camp for a few days on the instruction of Gregor Townsend to help his development. ‘It is good experience for him at full-back as well as wing,’ said Cockerill. ‘Blair Kinghorn has played a lot of rugby and he has a slight injury in his foot which we want to look after. ‘Darcy has done really well and this is a good opportunity to expose him at a different level. It will be interesting to see how he goes. ‘We have to make sure we develop the squad. The only way to do that is to give guys opportunities. This is a real opportunity in a big game that is important to us. ‘We are still going there to win albeit we have the luxury that we are already qualified.’