The Scotsman

Debutant loosehead Marfo tipped to prove his worth

- By DUNCAN SMITH DAN MCFARLAND “Darryl is first choice loosehead and well deserved”

Scotland forwards coach Dan Mcfarland has full confidence that debutant Darryl Marfo will rise to the occasion when he scrums down against Samoa at BT Murrayfiel­d this afternoon.

When the 27-year-old arrived at Edinburgh from Bath this summer he was viewed as the club’s fourthchoi­ce loosehead but injuries to the likes of Al Dickinson, Allan Dell and Glasgow’s Gordon Reid has propelled him into the Scotland No 1 jersey.

“Yeah, well, Darryl is first choice loosehead [now] and well deserved,” said Mcfarland yesterday. The uncapped Glasgow duo of prop Jamie Bhatti and hooker George Turner join Zander Fagerson as the front-row cover on the bench but Mcfarland is unconcerne­d.

“[Injuries] are never a problem, it’s always a challenge. I’d like to see it as an opportunit­y,” he said. “Every team has injuries. We’ll go out with the guys that we have. The one thing you do get when there are injuries is a set of bright eyes who want to take their opportunit­y.”

Edinburgh tighthead WP Nel will have a big role to play today as he builds back from the neck problems that wrecked last season and his Lions prospects. “WP has been brilliant,” said the former Connacht and Glasgow pack chief. “One is his passion about playing for the Scotland jersey.

“He is quite an understate­d man but he is front foot with his advice for young players. That does not matter whether it is Jamie he is scrumming against or Zander who is competing for his place. It doesn’t matter.”

With Scotland looking to play a fast brand of rugby, Edinburgh openside Hamish Watson has a vital linking role to play.

“His contact work stands out. If you want to play a high tempo game you are reliant on your ability to recycle ball,” said Mcfarland. “Hamish was outstandin­g for us on the summer tour and a big part of the reason why we produced fast ball in those games. He is dynamic and can bounce people off like a pinball and they are surprised by his power.”

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