In-form Edinburgh relishing Sharks test
Sean Everitt insists Edinburgh are "relishing this opportunity" to see off Springboks-laden Sharks in Friday night's URC showdown and continue their recent momentum.The capital side are eyeing a South African hat-trick after defeating Lions and Bulls this month on their run to the Challenge Cup semis.Edinburgh last faced Sharks a year ago, losing 36-30 in the Challenge Cup quarer-finals in Durban, but head into Friday's game in fine fettle after four wins in their past five outings in all competitions."Obviously we take a lot of confidence and momentum into the game," head coach Everitt said."We know the Sharks present similar challenges to what the Bulls do. The Bulls brought on five Springboks in the second half and it made a difference to their performance."The Sharks will be no different. They'll start with probably a dozen Springboks in their ranks. But at the same time, we've done well against the Sharks when we were away in the quarter-final last year in the EPCR, so we also take confidence out of that performance when there were a lot of the Springboks playing as well."We've also got our own group of internationals and we're playing at home, so we're relishing this opportunity. Our rugby performances have improved and with that you obviously get results."Everitt has rested Scotland wing Darcy Graham and Hamish Watson amid five changes for Friday's game.Props Pierre Schoeman and D'arcy Rae both start, Ali Price and Harry Paterson feature in the backs and Ben Muncaster comes in at openside flanker.Edinburgh are eighth in the URC and one of several clubs scrambling to secure their spot in the play-offs."We've got some tough games on the road as well coming up, so it is challenging," Everitt added. "The league is really tight, so every point matters at this stage."Edinburgh: Goosen, Paterson, Currie, Lang , McCann, Thompson, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Muncaster, Bradbury.Replacements: Cherry, Venter, Williams, Young, Douglas, Shiel, Scott, Tuipulotu.
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