Trio of casualties as Cockerill swings axe
● Scott, Dean and Fife dropped following poor performances against Benetton
Centres Matt Scott and Chris Dean, as well as wing Dougie Fife, have paid the price for last weekend’s poor defensive display against Benetton as Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill made a total of four changes for tonight’s Guinness Pro14 clash with the Cheetahs at BT Murrayfield.
Despite a 31-30 win, Cockerill was unhappy with the showing against the Italians, who outscored Edinburgh five tries to four seven days ago, and the coach was clear that the dropping of the three backs, Scott and Fife completely and Dean to the bench, was a response to last week.
In the other change to the starting XV, Allan Dell is rested ahead of the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup double header against Montpellier and Toulon, with Rory Sutherland coming in at loosehead for his first start of the season.
Argentine centre Juan Pablo Socino forms a new pairing with James Johnstone, while Darcy Graham comes in on the wing.
“I’ve picked the team that I think deserves to play,” said Cockerill. “Some guys have been left out from a selection point of view and Allan Dell is rested through the international protocols.
“The midfield is picked because the other two [Scott and Dean] didn’t play well enough. It’s the same with Dougie Fife. Darcy get his opportunity because Dougie has not played well enough for the last three weeks.”
Cockerill agreed that defensive failings had been the main bone of contention with the Benetton performance.
“We’ve had some good meetings and we’ve spoken around some fundamental parts of what we need to be like as a team,” he said. “That’s both how we play and also how we approach our work on the field and our work in training. That’s reflected in the side I’ve picked.
“I’m disappointed in how we let in soft tries because it’s not like us. We have defended very well last year and this year. To be so soft to play against isn’t good enough, it’s as simple as that. Guys have paid for that with their place in the team.”
Sutherland gets his chance as fellow international loosehead Darryl Marfo continues to find himself on the outside. The man who shot from nowhere to play in all three of last year’s autumn Tests is on the bench for Boroughmuir tomorrow.
“At the moment he’s not playing as well as the others. Until he does he won’t get his opportunity,” said Cockerill.
0 Argentine centre Juan Pablo Socino is brought into an Edinburgh side which shows four changes from last week’s line-up.
“I watch him train every day. When I think he deserves to play in the team he will play in the team, but until then he will keep working at his game. At this point, with [the suspended Pierre] Schoeman and Dell absent, Sutherland has done
he is very motivated, a good young player and someone I want to give opportunities to,” said Cockerill of the former Scotland Under-20 cap.
tunity in front of the senior guy when that guy is not doing what he should be doing?”
The daunting trip to face Montpellier next Saturday is looming but Cockerill is fully focused on bagging more precious Pro14 points against the South Africans before the shift to European action.
“We need to beat Cheetahs. The league is very important and we need the points,” he said.
“Cheetahs are a physical, abrasive outfit with quick backs out wide that’ll punish you throughout the 80 minutes.
“However, we’ve got plenty of belief, especially at home, and I’ve got every confidence that this group of players can bounce back.”