The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Toolis returns for
Edinburgh close to full strength for clash with Ulster at Murrayfield
“Ben has been coming back quite conservatively for that as we knew we wanted him back for the semi-final,” said Cockerill.
“We did not rush him back last week because there was no point, but he has been training fully for the last two weeks.
“He is such good quality you have to pick him if he is available for selection, he and (Grant) Gilchrist are such a great partnership.
“Of course he is not as match fit as we would have liked, but he worked hard away from the group during lockdown and he is desperate to play.
“This is the first time we have made a semi-final in the league and guys want to be part of it.
“Ben will be hugely valuable tomorrow and have a huge impact on the game. He’s a world-class player and he will play as he is a cut above most second rows.”
Ritchie suffered a “nasty” dislocated finger in training but is now recovered and ready.
“The way Jamie has trained this week gives you that confidence that he is ready to go, and he’s just got that bit of devil and steel about him that shows you why he is doing what he’s doing at Test level,” said Cockerill.
“But the team does pretty much pick itself. We’ve got a good group and the non 23 have been excellent this week helping to keep the intensity high.
“We’re ready to play. We’ve just got to make sure mentally that we are resilient enough and robust enough to deliver what we’ve said we are going to deliver. That’s the challenge.”
The head coach has no truck with the social media noise about the selection of Irishman Frank Murphy – a former player for Cockerill at Leicester – as referee, saying PRO14 ref chief Greg Garner cleared it with him first.
“I signed him and then I fired him,” Cockerill said of Murphy.
“Frank has transitioned to refereeing very well, he’s progressed over the last 24 months into a very good ref. The two that have been picked this weekend are the two form referees.
“Greg Garner rang me about that, asked me if I had an issue with an Irishman refereeing the game, and I just said ‘Is he the best referee?’ Frank’s a good referee.
“Last weekend, he sent two players off, others to the bin, and doesn’t care that it might affect the game or not. Frank refs what’s in front of him and I trust him to do that.”
Cockerill doesn’t have any qualms about a disciplinarian with the whistle either as Edinburgh are one of the least penalised and carded teams in the PRO14.
“The players know if you tackle someone high and your shoulder hits their head, you’re going to get sent off, or if you lead with your elbow and hit someone in the face, you’re