Edinburgh turn to a big-game hunter in Bennett
Edinburgh head coach richard Cockerill has recalled centre Mark bennett for today’s guinness Pro14 play-off clash with Munster, insisting he has a ‘gut feeling’ the Scotland star can be his match-winner at Thomond Park.
Cockerill admitted his ‘intuition’ told him that he should replace James Johnstone with bennett at no13 as the capital side bid to cause an upset in Limerick.
Johnstone was one of Edinburgh’s best players in last weekend’s win over glasgow Warriors, scoring his side’s opening try in the 24-19 home victory.
Yet he still drops to the bench to make way for the man the Edinburgh head coach believes has the experience to lead the back division and the physicality to punch holes in the Munster defence.
‘My intuition and gut feeling is that Mark is the man to play 13 for us tomorrow,’ said Cockerill. ‘he has a big day ahead of him as he has a vital role, simple as that.
‘he is an international rugby player, an Olympian who played for the british sevens team in rio. he brings us a little bit more physicality and experience which is what we need.
‘he should be perfect for a game like this. he’s been around, won this league competition for glasgow. his big-match temperament will be very important.
‘Mark knows the levels he can reach as a player. We need to see that level of performance from him tomorrow.’
being picked to start in Edinburgh’s biggest game of the season is an indication of how much faith Cockerill now has in the Scotland international centre.
That was not always the case. bennett had already agreed a pre-contract to join from glasgow before Cockerill was appointed and, to begin with, it was touch and go if he would find favour with the former England hooker.
An injury he picked up playing for Scotland in the loss to England at Twickenham in the 2017 Six nations meant he needed knee-reconstruction surgery that kept him out for over ten months.
That pushed his Edinburgh debut back to January and, since his return, he has been in and out of the starting team.
‘Mark had been injured for nearly a year before he even made his debut and needed some games under his belt to show us what he could do,’ said Cockerill.
‘he wasn’t the complete player when we signed him and we’ve had to keep him working on his game. he’s got better and comes into a side that needs his influence and we want him to show that.’
Cockerill believes his team will defeat Johann van graan’s side if they are still in contention with 20 minutes remaining.
‘We’ve got to control the game as best we can, keep the crowd quiet,’ he said.
‘if we’re in the game with 20 minutes to go, we’ll win.
‘They’re the home team. They’re the team that have got to produce something to win.
‘We don’t have to entertain, we’re just going there to play our strategy to win the game.’
The irish outfit has named a full-strength team that includes Lions trio Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander.
‘They are fully loaded,’ said the Edinburgh head coach.
‘That’s good and expected as it is a cup tie.
‘Look, they are expected to win. That is a no-brainer as they are at home at Thomond Park and a quality side, but we are pretty good side too, remember.’
Cockerill has made three changes from the team that beat glasgow. As well as bennett starting instead of Johnstone, Chris dean returns to action beside him in the centre after missing last weekend’s victory over the Warriors due to injury. he replaces Junior rasolea.
Full-back blair Kinghorn — a late call-off in the same game after getting food poisoning — has recovered and will take over from dougie Fife, who switches to the wing to replace Jason harries.
Lock forwards grant gilchrist and ben Toolis will go head-to-head with billy holland and Jean Kleyn in what will be one of the key battles in the match. The two Scotland internationals have been in good form of late at both the lineout and in open play.
With the Munster pack so strong, they will be asked to use all their experience to keep their opposite numbers in check.
‘This is one of the toughest teams in one of the toughest venues we could face in the play-offs,’ said gilchrist. ‘We know the way they play with some big collisions and hard work at the set-piece and the breakdown.
‘We know what we are going to get out there but, as a front-five forward, i love that.
‘if we can match them up front, we have guys like Mark bennett there in the backs. he is an outstanding player and was a big signing for the club.’