Zebre Parma v Edinburgh teams: Boost for visitors as Scotland duo return
Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham and flanker Hamish Watson.
Edinburgh welcome the return of Scotland internationals Darcy Graham and Hamish Watson for their United Rugby Championship match against Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Friday night.
The duo – rested for last weekend’s match against the Sharks – start as two of six personnel changes for the match-up which has been rescheduled due to the funeral of Pope Francis.
Edinburgh Pro-academy winger Jack Brown is handed his first professional start after an impressive showing from the bench against the Sharks, replacing the injured Ross McCann (foot) on the wing.
Boan Venter takes the place of the rested Pierre Schoeman at loosehead prop as Paddy Harrison replaces the injured Ewan Ashman (shoulder) at hooker.
In the second-row, Glen Young comes in for co-captain Grant Gilchrist, who is named as a replacement.
With Jamie Ritchie also rested, Ben Muncaster moves to blindside flanker, allowing the returning British & Irish Lion Watson to reclaim the number seven jersey.
Harry Paterson is named at full-back with Wes Goosen (back) unavailable through injury, as Graham and Brown start on opposite wings.
Matt Currie, back in his familiar outside centre role after featuring on the wing against the Sharks, partners James Lang in midfield.
Lang in fine form
Lang heads into the match in fine form, having scored three tries in his last two appearances for the Scottish capital club.
Fly-half Ross Thompson and scrum-half Ali Price continue as the starting half-backs. Up front, Harrison gets the nod at hooker, packing down alongside props Venter and D’arcy Rae.
Locks Sam Skinner and Young combine in the second-row as number eight Magnus Bradbury – named captain – anchors the back-row.
Meanwhile, Zebre Parma have made some alterations to their starting line-up after their defeat to Glasgow Warriors last week.
In the backline, Jacopo Trulla shifts from the right wing to full-back where he replaces Geronimo Prisciantelli with Scott Gregory coming into the run-on side to wear the number 14 jersey.
Damiano Mazza starts on the left wing to complete the back three while Fetuli Paea and Damiano Mazza continue as the midfield combination and Giacomo Da Re and Alessandro Fusco retain their positions as the starting half-backs.
Up front, there are some changes in the back-row with Giovanni Licata packing down at number eight while Bautista Stavile and Giacomo Ferrari are the starting flankers.
Leonard Krumov and Matteo Canali continue as the starting locks while Tommaso Di Bartolomeo slots in at hooker alongside the Muhamed Hasa and captain Danilo Fischetti, who are the two props.
The teams
Zebre: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c)
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Rusiate Nasove, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Giovanni Montemauri, 23 Luca Morisi
Edinburgh: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Jack Brown, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Ben Muncaster, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Glen Young, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Paddy Harrison, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Kick-off: 20:35 local (19:35 BST, 18:35 GMT)
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Alberto Favaro (FIR)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
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