McInally is ready for second spell as

Stuart McInally believes he is much better placed to succeed during his second spell as Edinburgh captain.

McInally has been handed the armband for the second time after sharing captaincy duties with Grant Gilchrist during the 2016-17 season, when Edinburgh finished ninth in the PRO12.

The 28-year-old resumes the role a more assured character after he and his club made huge strides last season.

McInally has excelled as a hooker after taking time to adapt following his switch from the front row. He captained Scotland to a 44-15 victory in Argentina in June after helping Edinburgh reach the Pro14 play-offs during Richard Cockerill’s first season in charge. McInally feels a changed man as he resumes the role.

“It’s night and day,” he said. “At the time of

“The club is in a greatplacenow so I can focus”

getting the co-captaincy I didn’t feel it affected me at all, but with how relaxed I am about it now. The club is in such a better place. I am from Edinburgh, I have always wanted Edinburgh to do well and maybe before I was doing things over and above what I needed to because I wanted Edinburgh to be good and be great.

“Whereas now I feel all that is taken care of, the club is in a great place, so all that is left for me is just to focus on my side of it and

Glasgow Warriors’ Ryan Wilson and Edinburgh’s Stuart McInally at yesterday’s launch of the Pro14 at Celtic Park where the final will be played