Major boost for Edinburgh ahead of European showdown

SCOTLAND stars Stuart McInally and Hamish Watson are both set to return for Edinburgh in Saturday’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Cardiff Blues — while Ross Ford could also be involved in the matchday squad for the first time in five months. Edinburgh go into the knockout clash at Murrayfield on the back of seven wins in eight matches in the Guinness Pro14 and in Europe this calendar year. They are still in the mix for two trophies come May, something the club has not been accustomed to in recent years, and having been rested last week following the conclusion of the Six Nations, hooker McInally and back-row Watson are available for selection once again. Hooker Ford is also back in full training having been out since before the autumn Tests. With loosehead prop Darryl Marfo having made his comeback from a four-month lay-off last Friday in the league victory over Connacht, the pack looks like getting back to somewhere near full strength at just the right time. Head coach Richard Cockerill, meanwhile, hopes the club’s recent run of positive form will see fans turn out in larger numbers for Saturday’s showdown with the Welsh outfit. Although Edinburgh’s results have been on the up, supporters have had to deal with the move to Myreside coming to an end, with the plans for a home in 2018-19 yet to be confirmed. For now, they are back at the national stadium and, after the Cardiff game, have three home league games during April. ‘I just hope we get a good support. We are having a good season and I like people to support their city and their team because the boys are working very hard to make this whole thing work,’ said Cockerill. ‘I really would like the fans to come and show what Edinburgh means to them. ‘I would like people to support their team and the boys will put everything on the field for them and we can start to build this club into what it can be. ‘The reality is that, whether we play at Myreside or at Murrayfield, the crowds stay the same. ‘I’m being kept abreast of new ground discussions, but my job isn’t about venues — it’s about coaching a team. I don’t want to get distracted by other things. My job is to get this team winning. If I do that, then things will hopefully take care of themselves. ‘Murrayfield is too big for us, but there’s no reason why we can’t get eight, ten, maybe even 12,000 to come and watch us. Then, wherever we go next, let’s hope we can continue doing that. ‘We’ve got a team that people can relate to, can support and walk away at the end of games and say: “That’s my team and I’m proud of what they’re trying to do”. I hope we start to get more people through the gates. ‘In the past, this club has over-promised and under-delivered. I’ve certainly under-promised and, hopefully, we’ll start to deliver in the next few weeks.’