Racing 92 v Edinburgh: Richard Cockerill makes bold call at stand-off

Edinburgh's Blair Kinghorn will play at stand-off against Racing 92. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

It’s a bold call by the capital club as they look to pull off an upset in the last 16 against last season’s beaten finalists.

Kinghorn played at stand-off in his formative years but the vast majority of his professional career has been spent at full-back and wing.

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill has brought back seven Scotland internationals for the game at La Defense Arena.

The pack is bolstered by the return of hooker David Cherry, tighthead WP Nel, lock Grant Gilchrist and flankers Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson.

International wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are also selected. All seven were part of the Scotland squad for the Six Nations.

There are recalls for Damien Hoyland (full-back), Pierre Schoeman (prop), and Viliame Mata (No 8), who have all recovered from injury, and centres George Taylor and James Johnstone.

The alterations mean Magnus Bradbury, Kinghorn and Henry Pyrgos are the only three players to be retained in the XV from last weekend’s loss to Dragons.

Bradbury moves forward from the back row to the second row where he will partner Gilchrist.

The winners will face an away tie against either Bordeaux-Begles or Bristol Bears in the quarter-finals.

Edinburgh (v Racing 92, Paris, Sunday, 12.30pm BST) – live on BT Sport

15. Damien Hoyland; 14. Darcy Graham, 13. James Johnstone, 12. George Taylor, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. Blair Kinghorn, 9. Henry Pyrgos; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. David Cherry, 3. WP Nel, 4. Magnus Bradbury, 5. Grant Gilchrist (c), 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16. Mike Willemse, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Mesulame Kunavula, 20. Luke Crosbie, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Mark Bennett.

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