Schoeman and Van der Merwe return to face Leinster

3 Nov 2023

Scotland internationalists Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe return for their first club appearance of the season as Edinburgh Rugby travel to face Leinster at RDS Arena tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 4 November, kick-off 3.05pm) – live on Viaplay.

The duo starts as two of five changes made to the starting XV – WP Nel (tighthead prop) and Charlie Shiel (scrum-half) come into the starting line-up as Javan Sebastian drops to bench, with Ben Vellacott missing out through personal reasons.

Elsewhere in the pack, Tom Dodd makes his second appearance for the club at blindside flanker as Viliame Mata misses out through injury. Luke Crosbie – this week nominated for Scottish Building Society Player of the Month – shifts to number 8.

Centre James Lang is once again fit to be named among the replacements – lining up alongside academy scrum-half and Jed Forest RFC/Hawick RFC product Hector Patterson who will make his professional debut if called upon – as Edinburgh Rugby look to make it three wins from three to start the new campaign.

On his selection, Senior Coach Sean Everitt said: “Leinster are a quality side and a team we have a lot of respect for from 1 to 23.

“We do however travel to Dublin with a lot of confidence after two hard-fought wins to start the season, and we can take a lot of positives from the resilience we’ve shown in closing out both victories.

“We’re delighted to welcome back both Pierre [Schoeman] an Duhan [Van der Merwe] to the squad. They are quality players with a lot of experience at the very top. They’ve trained really hard this week and are both excited to represent the club once again this weekend.”

Blair Kinghorn continues at full-back as Wes Goosen and Van der Merwe line-up on opposite wings.

An unchanged centre pairing sees Matt Currie and Mark Bennett combine in midfield. Stand-off Ben Healy – who has notched up 24 points in his first two games for the club – starts alongside scrum-half Shiel.

Hooker Dave Cherry packs down alongside Schoeman and Nel in an all-Scotland front-row as locks Grant Gilchirist and Glen Young complete the tight-five.

British & Irish Lion Hamish Watson – named BKT Player of the Match against Emirates Lions last weekend – starts at openside flanker alongside Dodd and Crosbie

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Leinster at RDS Arena in the BKT United Rugby Championship

Saturday 4 November, kick-off 3.05pm – live on Viaplay

15. Blair Kinghorn (135)

14. Wes Goosen (12)
13. Mark Bennett (90)
12. Matt Currie (20)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (75)

10. Ben Healy (2)
9. Charlie Shiel (57)

1. Pierre Schoeman (98)
2. Dave Cherry (73)
3. WP Nel (189)
4. Glen Young (24)
5. Grant Gilchrist (189) CAPTAIN
6. Tom Dodd (1)
7. Hamish Watson (141)
8. Luke Crosbie (86)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman (1)
17. Boan Venter (48)
18. Javan Sebastian (2)
19. Marshall Sykes (43)
20. Connor Boyle (34)
21. Hector Patterson*
22. James Lang (38)
23. Chris Dean (137)

Unavailable: Luan de Bruin (back), Darcy Graham (hip), Jake Henry (knee), Mikey Jones (ankle), Viliame Mata (shoulder), Cam Neild (knee), Ben Vellacott (personal reasons), Sam Skinner (knee), Scott Steele (hip), Nathan Sweeney (hamstring), Tim Swiel (ankle), Jamie Ritchie (shoulder).

*Edinburgh Rugby debut