Edinburgh team named to face Zebre with strong team named

The British and Irish Lion has been an Edinburgh stalwart since making his debut for the club in 2011 and is just the 11th player to reach that milestone, as well as becoming the first back row to do so. Sean Everitt has been able to name a strong team with a whole host of Scotland players released back to the squad for this weekend's clash in Parma. 

WP Nel starts after injury and will be hoping to impress and earn a place in Gregor Townsend's match day 23 next week for the Calcutta Cup with England, and he's joined in the front row by Boan Venter and Dave Cherry, with fellow Scotland prop Javan Sebastian named among the replacements by Everitt. 

Marshall Sykes and Glen Young start in the second row with Watson joined by former Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie and Bill Mata. 

It's an all Scotland international partnership at half back with Ali Price and Ben Healy both starting while James Lang and Matt Currie start at 12 and 13 respectively. 

There's also a return to Edinburgh colours for Harry Paterson after his impressive Scotland debut last time out as he starts on the wing with Chris Dean and Emiliano Boffelli completing the XV. 

Sebastian is one of those on the bench with Luan de Bruin and Nathan Sweeney reutrning from injury and being joined by Paddy Harrison, Tom Dodd, Connor Boyle, Ben Vollacott and Mark Bennett.

And Everitt said:  “The guys have come back from a break refreshed and ready to go. It’s been good to give our bodies a rest, but the squad are now champing at the bit to get into game time. 

“We name a side with plenty of quality and experience to face a Zebre Parma team who are much improved this season. With a number of our internationalists coming back into a settled squad, there is a good balance throughout the 23.

“Players like Jamie [Ritchie], Ali [Price] and WP [Nel] will be eager to impress from the get-go while we’re excited to see younger guys like Paddy [Harrison] and Nathan [Sweeney] get their opportunity from the bench.

“This is an important fixture for the club. We’ve trained well and are ready for the challenge.”

Edinburgh team to face Zebre: Boffelli, Paterson, Currie, Lang, Dean, Healy, Price, Venter, Cherry, Nel, Sykes, Young, Ritchie, Watson, Mata

Replacements: Harrison, de Bruin, Sebastian, Dodd, Boyle, Vellacott, Bennett, Sweeney