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Edinburgh and Scotland hit by Six Nations injury double whammy
By Bryn Palmer
Edinburgh and Scotland have suffered a major injury blow with lock Marshall Sykes set to miss the capital club’s remaining European Champions Cup pool games and a big chunk of the Six Nations.
Sykes, 25, was forced off with an arm issue in the second half of Edinburgh’s 33-20 victory over Toulon last Sunday in their opening Pool 2 fixture.
The 6ft 7in, 121kg (19st) second-row will undergo surgery on a bicep muscle, with Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt reporting he will be out for a “long period of time”, before confirming it will be a “10-to-12 week injury”.
That timeframe would see Sykes sidelined until early March, meaning he will miss Edinburgh’s remaining European pool games against Castres on Sunday, Gloucester and Bath in January, a URC double-header with Glasgow over the festive period plus Scotland’s first three games of the Six Nations.
Sykes has become a frontline starter since last season with his club, and featured in three of Scotland’s four November Tests, starting against USA and coming off the bench against New Zealand and Tonga, to take his tally to seven caps.
“It’s unfortunate for a guy that was probably peaking in the season,” Everitt said. “He’s a massive contributor to our set-piece and our set-piece success that we’ve had. So we’ll miss him.”
Sykes’ absence adds to Edinburgh’s stretched resources in the second row. They are already without another Scotland lock, Sam Skinner, with a hamstring injury until late January while Rob Carmichael has yet to play this season with a wrist issue.
With Grant Gilchrist one of five Scotland players rested for Sunday’s second Champions Cup pool fixture away to Castres, Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young start in the second row, but there is no specialist cover on the bench, with two Academy locks – Christian Lindsay and Euan McVie – also currently sidelined. No.8 Tom Dodd will move into the second row if required.
“It’s fortunate for us with the depth that we’ve got in that position,” Everitt said. “Callum Hunter-Hill gets another opportunity to start, as he did against Ospreys (two weeks ago), so he can build some continuity in that position.
“Then we’ve got Glen Young, who’s an experienced campaigner, a really good line-out caller and a guy that’s got a high work-rate. So although we’ll miss Marshall, we’ve got some players in place.”
Another Scotland international, flanker Luke Crosbie, also appears to be a doubt for the Six Nations with a hamstring injury while fellow back-rower Ben Muncaster is at least a month away from returning from a knee problem.
“We won’t be seeing Luke back any time soon, but Ben should be mid-January,” Everitt reported.
With full-back Harry Paterson also suffering a hamstring issue during an impressive outing against Toulon, Edinburgh currently have 13 players on their injured list.
Scotland wing Darcy Graham will also miss the trip to France after suffering a flare-up in his back against Toulon. “He pushed through the game, but we just felt for his own personal welfare that he doesn’t play this weekend,” Everitt said.
Amid all the absentees, there was some positive news in the return of Scotland centre Matt Currie, who will start at the Stade Pierre-Fabre, for the first time this season.
The 24-year-old centre has been a virtual ever-present over the past two seasons, but started to experience symptoms of vertigo during a pre-season camp and has only returned to full training in recent weeks after a frustrating few months.
“We can’t say whether the vertigo will come back or not, but we’re certainly going to give him an opportunity,” Everitt said. “He feels he’s ready to play now, and we’re holding thumbs that he pulls through the game really well.
“He’s an integral part of our team, a guy that’s performed every week that he’s put on the Edinburgh jersey, and he’s gone from strength to strength over the last two seasons. His communication and leadership has been missed, and it’s just great to have him back. We’ll celebrate the small moments that he has on the park until he gets fully match-fit.”
Currie is one of 11 changes to the side which beat Toulon, with a completely revamped three-quarter line featuring a new back three of Jack Brown, Ross McCann and Lewis Wells. Piers O’Conor partners Currie in midfield, outside half-backs Cammy Scott and captain Ben Vellacott, who are both retained after impressive displays against Toulon.
Up front, Springbok prop Boan Venter takes over from the rested Pierre Schoeman, 19-year-old tighthead Ollie Blyth-Lafferty gets his second senior start after 40 minutes against Toulon, while 20-year-old openside Freddy Douglas is handed his first start of the season alongside the in-form Liam McConnell in the back row.
But Edinburgh’s line-up is a clear indication they are prioritising the impending URC double-header with Scottish rivals Glasgow, with the first leg of the annual 1872 Cup fixtures at Hampden Park on 20 December and the return at Murrayfield a week later.
“We have to prioritise games, and obviously the 1872 Cup games are massive in our calendar,” Everitt added. “I have to balance the squad out so that I have our strongest team available for the big games.
“We like to give players a rest once they’ve played four or five games. It’s good for the squad and our team environment, if everyone’s getting an opportunity to play. The energy levels are really high within this group because they are competing for a place in the 1872. That’s what we spoke about at the beginning of the year – every time you get an opportunity to wear the jersey, it’s an opportunity to be in what we call our championship team.
“But don’t under-estimate the part that these guys will bring on Sunday at Castres – we are looking for a victory.”
Edinburgh Rugby: 15. Jack Brown; 14. Ross McCann, 13. Matt Currie, 12. Piers O’Conor, 11. Lewis Wells, 10. Cammy Scott, 9. Ben Vellacott (capt); 1. Boan Venter, 2. Harri Morris, 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4. Callum Hunter-Hill, 5. Glen Young, 6. Liam McConnell, 7. Freddy Douglas, 8. Tom Dodd.
Replacements:16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Mikey Jones, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Connor Boyle, 20. Hamish Watson, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. James Lang, 23. Wes Goosen.
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