Dragons v Edinburgh: Luke Crosbie relishing back-row competition from Watson and Ritchie

Luke Crosbie in action for Edinburgh against Scarlets. Picture: Paul Devlin/SNS

With the pair absent for much of the season due to the extended international window, Crosbie has had more game-time than he perhaps though he would and the former Currie openside will be part of a back-row alongside Magnus Bradbury and Mesu Kunavula when the capital side play the Dragons in Cardiff this afternoon.

“There’s loads of competition in the back row, but it’s probably best for me to be competing with those guys who are going on to the international level when they’re performing really well and standing out at that level.

“It gives me confidence that if I’m competing with these guys, when I get my opportunity to play at that level I can put a good performance in.”

Crosbie hopes he can do enough in Wales to keep him in contention for Edinburgh’s Heineken Champions Cup clash against Racing 92 in Paris the following weekend.

“I’m just looking forward to this weekend, taking a game at a time,” said Crosbie. “Obviously it would be a good experience to go over there, but I’m just trying to put my best foot forward this weekend and see where that takes me.”

Edinburgh: (v Dragons, Principality Stadium, 2pm): Blair Kinghorn; Jack Blain, Mark Bennett, Chris Dean, Eroni Sau; Jaco van der Walt, Henry Pyrgos; Murray McCallum, Sam Kitchen, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson, Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, Mesu Kunavula.

Substitutes: Patrick Harrison, Shaun Gunn, Angus Williams, Andries Ferreira, Connor Boyle, Charlie Shiel, Matt Currie, George Taylor.

A message from the Editor:

Get a year of unlimited access to all of The Scotsman's sport coverage without the need for a full subscription. Expert analysis of the biggest games, exclusive interviews, live blogs, transfer news and 70 per cent fewer ads on Scotsman.com - all for less than £1 a week. Subscribe to us today