Dickinson may be a saviour for Scotland squad
Prop’s main goal is to gain momentum before tackling La Rochelle in quarter-final
COTLAND prop Alasdair Dickinson has made a quickerthan-expected return from the broken foot he sustained at Christmas and could put himself in the frame for a Test recall if he comes through tonight’s Edinburgh tie.
Given Scotland’s scrum woes over the rest of the RBS Six Nations Championship, Dickinson’s return could be a case of perfect timing with the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham eight days away. However, he is unlikely to play more than about 50 to 60 minutes, making it a huge gamble if he were recalled.
Dickinson missed the first half of the season after tearing his hamstring playing for Scotland on the summer tour of Japan. He came back in time for Edinburgh’s European Challenge Cup matches against Stade Francais, but then broke his foot in the Boxing Day derby against Glasgow, meaning he has played a total of 131 minutes all season.
“We knew he was always going to be ready around this time, is great to have him back,” said Duncan Hodge the interim Edinburgh coach, as he unveiled his team for tonight’s match.
“He brings great experience especially at a time when we have been struggling with our props and Jack [Cosgrove, who has been filling in] is now injured too. Over this past year he has had a tough time and has had to put in a lot of hard work to get back.”
Could Dickinson be the scrum saviour Scotland have been looking for? He certainly has the experience and was the form loosehead in Scotland before his injury. To ask him to take on the power of England with so little rugby under his belt, though, would be tricky. While not ruling it out, Hodge was playing down his chances.
“Just having him back with us and ready to get some rugby is great. We will see how long he lasts out there, we can’t push that. Hopefully he plays well, gets his confidence up and goes from there,” he said.
He is one of the changes to the side that collapsed in the final quarter of the game against Cardiff Blues last week to end all hope of reaching the top half of the Guinness PRO12. Others include Duncan Weir being released by Scotland to get some game time and Grant Gilchrist, after being sidelined by club and country, getting a rare start.
“He had a good run of games before the Six Nations,” Hodge pointed out, though Gilchrist has found himself on Edinburgh’s bench in more recent matches. “It is good to have him back starting. He has just made a couple of little errors.”
With the Ospreys gunning for a home semi final in the play-offs and Edinburgh at the foot of the table, the main goal for the Scots is to try to get some momentum before tackling La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final at the end of the month.
B Kinghorn; D Hoyland, G Bryce, C Dean, R Scholes; D Weir, S Hidalgo-Clyne; A Dickinson, N Cochrane (C), M McCallum, G Gilchrist, B Toolis, M Bradbury, J Ritchie, C Du Preez. Replacements S McInally, D Appiah, K Bryce, A Bresler, L Carmichael, N Fowles, J Rasolea, M Allen.
D Evans; K Giles, K Fonotia, J Matavesi, D Howell; S Davies, T Habberfield (C); N Smith, S Parry, B Mujati, T Ardron, R Thornton, O Cracknell, S Underhill, J King. Replacements H Gustafson, P James, R Jones, J Bearman, D Baker, B Leonard, J Spratt, J Baker.
G Clancy (Ireland).