...while Cockerill tips Duhan to join tour

RICHARD COCKERILL insists that Duhan van der Merwe has done enough in the seven months since his Scotland debut to merit a place on the Lions tour to his native South Africa. An impressive eight tries in just ten games for his adopted country can’t have failed to catch Warren Gatland’s eye ahead of Thursday’s squad announcement. And although the 25-year-old winger’s (right) defence has been suspect at times, his head coach at Edinburgh insists there are more positives than negatives about his game. ‘The timing for Duhan couldn’t have been better,’ said Cockerill. ‘Qualifying to play for Scotland, scoring lots of tries and making lots of metres. He’s very quick and powerful and, with some injuries in and around that wing spot for the Lions with George North out, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was well in the mix to get picked.’ Cockerill hopes a number of his players will be on the plane to South Africa — none more so than influential flanker Hamish Watson. At the age of 29 and having been overlooked for the 2017 trip to New Zealand, this could be his last chance. ‘It’s always important for the individual because Lions tours don’t come round that often in guys’ careers,’ said the Edinburgh boss. ‘If you’re good enough to get picked, that’s a brilliant achievement. ‘Potentially for Hamish, this may be his only opportunity to be on a Lions tour.’ Cockerill also believes flanker Jamie Ritchie and prop Rory Sutherland are good enough to earn selection but admitted Sutherland is in a race against time to be fit if picked. ‘Exact timescales can’t be given but, if selected, it will be tight,’ added Cockerill.