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Emiliano Boffelli set to make first Edinburgh appearance of season

By PA
Argentina' Emiliano Boffelli. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Argentina winger Emiliano Boffelli will make his first appearance of the season for Edinburgh when they host Lions on Friday night.

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Boffelli is back in United Rugby Championship action after playing a key role in his country’s summer series win over Scotland and bagging 20 points in Los Pumas’ Rugby Championship victory over New Zealand.

Head coach Mike Blair makes eight changes following his side’s return from South Africa with Mark Bennett and Ben Vellacott missing out through injury.

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Matt Currie makes his first start of the season at outside centre while Henry Pyrgos comes in at scrum-half.

Luke Crosbie and Viliame Mata return to fitness in place of injured back-row pair Jamie Ritchie and Nick Haining.

Boan Venter and Luan de Bruin form a new-look front row and lock Glen Young comes into the second row.

Blair said: “We’re excited to be back home after a two-week tour and the squad are really looking forward to Friday night lights in front of the Edinburgh supporters – it’s always a special experience playing under the lights and we’re anticipating a brilliant atmosphere.

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“We’ve made a number of changes to the starting line-up and we’re excited to see guys get their opportunity for what will be a really tough match-up.

“Emirates Lions come into the game having won two straight in Wales, so we’ll have to be at our very best come kick-off.”

Edinburgh Rugby: Henry Immelman, Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, James Lang, Emiliano Boffelli, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, Luan de Bruin, Glen Young, Grant Gilchrist (CAPT), Luke Crosbie, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata

Replacements: Dave Cherry, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel Charlie Savala, Chris Dean

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Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee, Stean Pienaar, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw, Quan Horn, Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba, Sti Sithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Reinhard Nothnagel (CAPT), Sibusiso Sangweni, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruhan Straeuli, Morne van den Berg, Jordan Hendrikse, Zander du Plessis

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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