Rugby: Edinburgh lose top Euro try scorer BenCairns

By BILL LOTHIAN
Published on Thursday 12 January 2012 12:01

Edinburgh Rugby are today resigned to losing their joint top European try scorer, Ben Cairns, for the remainder of the season.

The seven-times capped centre damaged a knee in a pre-season friendly last August and underwent arthroscopic surgery two months later.

However, Cairns, 26, whose tally of nine Heineken Cup tries ranks him alongside Chris Paterson in the all-time list, is due to return to a specialist next week with Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley resigned to being without a player who made the last provisional World Cup squad.

After announcing seven changes (one positional) to the team for tomorrow’s vital Euro trip to Racing Metro of Paris when Edinburgh hope to cement pole position in their qualifying group, Bradley updated on Cairns, saying: “Ben is going into a specialist next week. It’s not looking good for the season.He has just been unfortunate. We don’t expect to see him (in action) this season.”

Returning to the Edinburgh team after missing last week’s 42-20 thumping by Ulster are backs Lee Jones, Matt Scott and Mike Blair along with forwards Grant Gilchrist, Dave Denton and Ross Rennie.

In addition, Greig Laidlaw switches from scrum-half to stand-off, allowing Mike Blair to slot in.

Included on the bench is 21-year-old hooker Alun Walker who, if he gets on, will become the sixth Edinburgh newcomer to European action in a so-far successful campaign following Grant Gilchrist, Harry Leonard, Matt Scott, Tom Brown and Jack Gilding.

Coach Bradley has hailed the emergence of these players, saying: “It is a huge complement to the Elite Development Players and the academy that the quality is there. We would not have any inhibitions about bringing in a younger player once he has trained well, shown he has the attitude and the skill levels.”

Although successful in the home leg against Racing, the Scots conceded 47 points. And with 42 points leaked last week against Ulster in the league, how concerned is Bradley?

“The way Ulster play and the way Racing play are miles apart,” he said. “Racing don’t work as hard as us. They are powerful men but not as mobile. Ulster’s defence was excellent, whereas Racing will give us opportunities but they will back themselves to come at us.”

Related Articles

• Rugby: Cairns ruled out for rest of the year

  Edinburgh Rugby’s international centre Ben Cairns was today ruled out for the remainder of the year after injuring a knee in a pre-season friendly.

  0 Comments

• Cairns: Pal Paterson is nifty at 50

  BEN CAIRNS today led tributes to Chris Paterson ahead of his Edinburgh colleague becoming the first Scot to make 50 Heineken European Cup appearances in Saturday's vital Pool Two qualifying clash at Castres Olympique.

  0 Comments

• Rugby: Euro revamp adds fizz to Heineken campaign

  EDINBURGH RUGBY great Derrick Lee has welcomed a change which will increase the number of teams being exposed to knock-out rugby in Europe this season.

  0 Comments

• Rugby: Malta call would cap Bartolo's battle back from serious injury

  Just as Scotland's rugby players are returning - hopefully in triumph - from the World Cup in New Zealand later this year, an Edinburgh club stalwart will be aiming to hop aboard the international merry-go-round for some unfinished business at Test level.

  0 Comments

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.