Benetton match 'must-win' for Edinburgh, says Darcy Graham

Edinburgh have won just two of their opening six matches – both at home against Stormers and Cardiff.  

And with another home match against Benetton on Saturday, the Scotland international knows it is a “massive” encounter as Sean Everitt’s side look to ignite their season before European games against Gloucester and Bayonne and the derby matches against Glasgow.  

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Graham said: “It's been a weird start to the season. I don't think we're far away.  

“We clicked really well against Cardiff. We got a decent win there and then almost went away from that against Ospreys. That was a wee bit frustrating.  

“Benetton at home at the weekend is a massive one. It's a must-win game, we could do with five points from it. It just puts you back on the horse.” 

Darcy Graham was in great form for Scotland over the autumn, scoring four tries against Fiji and one against Portugal (Image: SNS Group / SRU)

Everitt confirmed earlier this week that all his international contingent are fit and available, though the Edinburgh boss may opt to rest one or two who had busy workloads during the Autumn Nations Series.  

But for Graham, who has missed much of the past year with a serious groin injury, he’s raring to go.  

He added: “There's no time off or anything. The boys are in and if you're selected, you'll be playing.” 

And after a month in international camp, Graham said the jibes between his Edinburgh team-mates and their Glasgow Warriors counterparts have already begun ahead of the 1872 Cup double-header over the festive period.  

“They've been going at each other all week,” the Hawick-born wing said.  

“They are weird games to play in. You've been best mates for four weeks and then you go to hating them on the pitch.  

“The banter has started already and we've been stuck into the boys.” It'll be a great atmosphere.” 

Almost 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the first leg, which Glasgow have moved from Scotstoun to Hampden Park on December 22.  

Glasgow Warriors have moved the first leg of the 1872 Cup to Hampden (Image: Craig Watson)

Graham is looking forward to his visit to the home of Scottish football.  

"It's better than playing at Scotstoun,” he said, perhaps in reference to the Warriors’ imperious home record.   

Graham also believes it is a positive step to try and grow the game, which regularly attracts big crowds for Edinburgh leg, which has traditionally been played at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.  

“It's good for the game to grow. We get massive crowds, so they deserve to get massive crowds through there.”