CAPITAL MEN FACE ITALIAN CRUNCH

IT took a last-gasp penalty for French giants Toulon to see off Benetton in the European Champions Cup last weekend. Today, Edinburgh visit the Italians on Pro14 duty and Richard Cockerill’s men know they will face a tough test. The capital club have endured a difficult few weeks after the suspension of Magnus Bradbury and John Hardie, but they retained their focus to sweep aside Krasny Yar 73-14 in Russia last Saturday. The men from Treviso will not be so easily subdued, so Cockerill is eager for his team to turn on the style again. The Edinburgh head coach said: ‘We must make sure we play with the same intent and accuracy we’ve shown over the last couple of weeks. We will take confidence from that but physically we’ll need to be very good as well. ‘We were excellent in Russia and we have to make sure we go to Treviso and do the same. ‘They have had a couple of very good performances, if not the results they’d have liked. ‘Last week, they were unlucky not to beat a good Toulon side, so we have it all to do there.’ Edinburgh have been boosted with the news stand-off Jason Tovey is fit and able to return to the side after being stretchered off in Russia. ‘The medics have done a good job,’ said Cockerill. ‘Jason injured his knee and he thought it was serious at the time, but he has made a miraculous recovery. ‘He trained on Thursday and today and he seems to have come through very well.’ Cockerill has made eight changes to the side that won in Russia, with recalled Scotland player Dougie Fife returning and Jason Harries coming in on the other wing.