Leinster v Edinburgh latest: Scotland duo out as Sean Everitt issues ‘nothing to lose’ cry
Duhan van der Merwe (left) and Magnus Bradbury (left) will miss Edinburgh's Champions Cup meeting with Leinster
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt insists his side have nothing to lose this weekend in their Investec Champions Cup round-of-16 tie with Leinster, but head to Dublin without key duo Duhan van der Merwe and Magnus Bradbury.
The pair, who were both involved in Scotland’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, will sit out the knockout tie through injury, with back-rower Bradbury suffering ligament damage in their 33-14 defeat to the Stormers while van der Merwe is out with an ankle issue sustained in the Six Nations.
The two-time British and Irish Lions tourist has not taken to the field since Scotland’s clash with Wales back in February, and missed Edinburgh’s recent trip to Cape Town as well.
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Bradbury lasted the full 80 minutes in that defeat to the Stormers, despite the knock, but has been taken out of the firing line this weekend as a precaution.
“When he had that clear out in the game, that’s when he went down,” Everitt said. “He was able to finish the game, so we’re hoping it’s not too serious. He’s seeing a specialist on Thursday but he’s not available this weekend.
“He’s a good leader and he’s actually been one of our star performers, the head coach continued. “We will miss Maggie this weekend.”
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This game has also come a bit too soon for powerhouse winger van der Merwe, but Everitt did confirm he was progressing well with his rehab after returning to the club from Six Nations duty.
“Duhan has returned to running. I’m hoping (he will be fit) in the next two weeks,” said the head coach.
“Our goal is to win rugby games until the end of the season. We’ll try and pick our best possible team that’s available.”
But, this double blow could be softened a touch with Ben Muncaster and D’arcy Rae in contention to feature this weekend, pending late calls on their fitness.
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‘We’ve got nothing to lose’
Despite venturing to Dublin without two of their key men, and on a run of three successive defeats and with just three wins to their name since the turn of the year, Edinburgh will still come into this game with some hope.
The Capital outfit pushed Leinster close in their previous meeting back in January, losing 28-20 at the Aviva, while Leinster themselves have also won just one of their last three outings.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Everitt insisted. “We know that Europe determines whether Leinster have a successful season or not.
“So we know that the pressure is on them to perform at the same time. We are alive in a competition and dead in another one. We’ve got everything to play for too.”
“There is a hunger within this group,” he continued. “I think you saw it for 62 minutes; it’s not that we rolled over and died against the Stormers.
“We managed the game well against a kick-heavy team. We won the territory battle in that game, and that’s going to be important against Leinster.”