Cockerill ready to be tested by Bordeaux

RICHARD COCKERILL is spoiled for choice when it comes to team selection at the moment but he is not complaining.

Edinburgh’s head coach welcomes back eight internationalists to his starting XV who will face BordeauxBegles in the European Challenge Cup at Murrayfield this evening, having made 13 changes to the side that defeated Agen in round one of the campaign last weekend.

Scotland internationalists Blair Kinghorn, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, Henry Pyrgos, Ben Toolis and Magnus Bradbury all return to the starting line-up.

“You can never have enough good players, that’s for sure,” Cockerill said. “We made a choice last week to give guys opportunities and they played well, put their hands up and stepped forward into the selection mix on a more regular basis.

“There are 13 changes this week so we have a fresh squad and we need them to do exactly what the guys did last week and turn up, perform well against a very good team.”

As Edinburgh look to maintain their 100 per cent home record, Fijian international Viliame Mata makes his first start of the season, while Duhan van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Pierre Schoeman, Mike Willemse, Pietro Ceccarelli and Luke Crosbie are all named to face the French.

Bordeaux are likely to pose a stiffer test than Agen, as they sit second in their domestic league and with Semi Radradra and Seta Tamanivalu on their books, there is no shortage of star power in their ranks.

“They have had a change of coach, so they look a lot more organised than when I was there a couple of years ago. They have a pretty settled squad,” said Cockerill.

“There are some key members in that side. [Santiago] Cordero was fantastic for Exeter and Radradra is probably one of the world’s best backs. Any side would be a better side for having them in it. The rest of the squad are not household names, but they are very good players.

“I am expecting a very good team that will challenge us more than Montpellier and Toulon did last year.”