After early agitation following Cockerill’s exit

Under Blair, Lang believes a more expansive outlook will prosper, as Edinburgh move into their new ‘Mini Murrayfield’ home adjacent to the national stadium, complete with a synthetic 3G pitch.

“I got on well with Mike in camp and under his coaching style I think the team and myself will really thrive,” he said. “Mike is a very good coach, he showed that with the work he was doing with Scotland. He will bring that same attacking mindset into Edinburgh.

“With the new pitch as well, it will be a bit faster and will benefit the team. I don’t think the style of play will be too dissimilar to what I was used to at Quins, with the free-flowing rugby and the attacking mindset over the last six months – and the importance of defence within that.”

Harlequins’ remarkable rollercoaster ride to the Premiership title last season was the stuff of legend.

But Lang featured in only nine league games, starting just four. He came off the bench in their stunning semi-final victory over Bristol – the biggest comeback in Premiership history – but did not make the match-day squad for the final against Exeter. If anything, it reenforced his decision to head for pastures new, with a burning desire to add to his six Scotland caps by nailing down a regular place in his preferred position of inside centre.

“Missing out on the final was really hard, a tough pill to swallow,” added Lang, who also featured at fly-half and full-back for Quins.

“That is one of the reasons I want to play more. I haven’t played a great deal at centre over the last two years and I know to play for my country, I have to play more for my club.

“It was a massive factor in leaving. I spent five years at Quins and I loved playing there but it was very stopstart with game time and moving round positions. I had to look at where I fit in and where I would progress the most.

“I have aspirations to play for my country a lot more. In order to do that I have to play in my best position which is centre. I felt making the move up here would help me pursue my goals.”