‘Expect the best’: World-class Scotland winger’s Six Nations chances assessed - but needs game-time

The pair will start for the capital side in Friday’s United Rugby Championship fixture against the Bulls at Hive Stadium, with the hosts keen to maintain their 100 per cent home record and move closer to the top eight.

Everitt also views the match as a chance for his two wingers to show the national coach they deserve to start at Stadio Olimpico after Townsend this week urged them to make his team selection as difficult as possible.

“We don't know what the Test team will look like,” said Everitt. “Darcy and Duhan could start that Test against Italy.

“Every game that you play, you have an opportunity to put your hand up for selection and I'm sure that the guys won't just be happy about being in the Six Nations squad. They want to play for a place in that starting line-up in the Test matches to come. You never just want to be part of a squad.

“So, there's quite a lot to play for because in the next couple of weeks and the two URC fixtures that are left prior to the Six Nations, that is an opportunity to put your hand up and show Gregor that you're the guy to take the field in the match 23.”

He's a guy that needs game time

Edinburgh, currently 10th in the URC standings and two points adrift of the play-off positions, face Leinster away next Saturday in the final match before the Six Nations begin. It remains to be seen how many Scotland players will be available to Everitt for the game in Dublin but the coach believes van der Merwe would benefit from more game-time.

Scotland’s top try-scorer has not been his usual prolific self and has been hampered by hip and calf injuries. He has started only half of Edinburgh’s games this season and was dropped by Scotland for the first time in his Test career in the autumn when he was left out of the 23 to face the All Blacks.

Kyle Steyn has been outstanding for Glasgow Warriors this season and it was he and Graham who started on the wings in the high-profile November Tests against New Zealand and Argentina. Steyn’s Glasgow team-mates Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe are also pushing for Scotland selection but Everitt thinks van der Merwe’s ability to rise to the big occasion makes him an invaluable asset for Townsend.

Massive difference in temperature

“Obviously, he's got to get through this game on Friday night to determine where he'll be next week,” said Everitt. “But he's a guy that needs game time. It's something that is good for Scotland that he plays as many as he can prior to the Six Nations. That'll give him confidence and opportunity to reach form. You're talking about a guy that's world-class in his position and a guy that always performs really well in the Six Nations. I think you can expect the best from Duhan.”

Everitt’s immediate priority is overcoming a Bulls side that is packed full of Springboks but may not relish playing on plastic on a rainy, chilly night in Edinburgh.

“It's a massive difference in temperature for the Bulls,” said Everitt. “I think in Pretoria a couple of days ago it was 36 degrees. So, it is very different to what they're used to.

“What stands them in good stead is that they've been in Europe now for two weeks [they beat Pau in the Champions Cup in France last week] so they would have been acclimatised to the conditions. We've also been known to perform well in dreadful conditions here at Hive Stadium because we play in them all the time.

“But at the end of the day, it's two rugby teams taking each other on, international players on both sides. So, it's going to be a tough encounter regardless. The Bulls are coming off a good win on Friday against Pau. I'm sure they've re-energised and have a different feeling within the group than they had last week. So, it makes them even more dangerous than they probably would have been in the past.

“They're loaded with international experience with Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard and Willie Le Roux. They’ve got a dangerous sniping nine in Embrose Papier and a powerful scrum with the likes of Wilco Louw so they are a formidable team.”

Edinburgh v Bulls: how they’ll line up

Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls (URC, Hive Stadium, Friday, 7.45pm)

Edinburgh: 15. Harry Paterson; 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Wes Goosen, 12. James Lang, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. Ross Thompson, 9. Ben Vellacott; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. D’arcy Rae, 4. Glen Young, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. Liam McConnell, 7. Freddy Douglas, 8. Magnus Bradbury (capt). Replacements: 16. Harri Morris, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Callum Hunter-Hill, 20. Ben Muncaster, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Cammy Scott, 23. Piers O’Conor.

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux; Cheswill Jooste, Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Handre Pollard, Zak Burger; Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Mpilo Gumede, Jeandre Rudolph. Replacements: Marco van Staden, Alu Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).