Cockerill vows to push for more funds from SRU

EDINBURGH head coach Richard Cockerill insists he will continue to fight for more financial backing from the SRU after being forced to go with a young, inexperienced side against Munster in tonight’s Pro14 clash in Cork.

The Englishman squares up to the Irish giants while dealing with a string of injuries, ten players given an extra week to recover from their autumn international exertions and several first-team regulars rested, including Ben Toolis, Henry Pyrgos and Grant Gilchrist.

Centre George Taylor, 22, will make his Edinburgh debut and is one of nine players coming in following the 18-12 defeat by the Dragons in Wales. Lewis Wynne makes his first start in the back row after a couple of substitute appearances in recent weeks.

Now Cockerill has indicated he will be looking to rugby chiefs to strengthen his squad.

‘It is nowhere near what is perceived as our strongest side, but managing the squad with the injuries we have and with the budgets we deal with — that’s where we are at this point,’ he said.

‘This is the first time this has happened and discussions will continue as ever. I have to keep championing the cause for us to improve across the board.’

Cockerill’s frustration is compounded by facing a Munster outfit with the ability to call on big guns such as skipper Peter O’Mahony, who was man of the match in Ireland’s recent victory over the All Blacks, while scrum-half Conor Murray also makes his first start this season after a neck injury.

On resting the likes of Toolis and Gilchrist, who have formed a key partnership in the second row, Cockerill said: ‘We’ve got to look at the bigger picture of our season and you can’t keep asking the same players to front-up every week, especially those Test players.

‘They can’t just keep playing every week for the next 30 weeks. We’ve got to manage them.

‘It’s very unhelpful we’ve got significant injuries to very good players in our pack, especially in the back five.

‘We’ve had nine international forwards on duty and they need to rest. We’ve prepared as well as we can and will travel with the mindset to win.’