Big guns back but Edinburgh may still find a place for Jack Blain and Nathan Chamberlain

It’s been a long time since Edinburgh were able to field a full-strength side and they have suffered without their 14 Scotland players during the extended international window.

Jack Blain has made a big impression for Edinburgh during some tough Pro14 matches. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

But the cavalry returns for Saturday night’s clash with La Rochelle at BT Murrayfield in the Heineken Champions Cup. It’s been a good competition for Edinburgh over the years, with the capital club reaching the semi-finals in 2012 and the quarter-finals in 2018, their last appearance in the tournament.

A break from the grind of the Pro14 might be just the tonic for Richard Cockerill’s men who have struggled since rugby resumed after lockdown.

The delayed conclusion to last season saw them lose to Ulster at home in the Pro14 semi-finals and Bordeaux-Begles away in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Things didn’t get any better when the new campaign began and they are currently second bottom of Conference B in the Pro14.

Nathan Chamberlain has stepped up for Edinburgh at stand-off in the absence of Jaco van der Walt. Picture: Ross Parker/SNS

So can a return to the elite European stage kick-start their season?

“I bloody hope so!” said centre Mark Bennett. “We have done some really good stuff along the way but it has just not quite happened for us. If you look back at the Ulster semi-final or the Bordeaux quarter-final, we were there or thereabouts in the games.

“Ospreys was a close game. We could have beaten Munster as well. We have been close so I don't think we're looking for massive changes.

“The last couple of weeks have been tough. We were playing against two good sides [Ulster and Leinster] and we weren't quite at our best. But we just need to keep doing what we're doing because it will come.”

Bennett says morale has been lifted by the returning Scotland contingent, with Blair Kinghorn in particular injecting enthusiasm to training.

“Blair always brings a lot of energy,” said the centre. “He is always full of nonsense as well. He adds a nice feel to the squad.

“He is just a big kid, and a bloody talented big kid. He is always full of beans. Whatever time of day it is, he has always got some form of energy to keep himself going and keep everyone going. He is a good guy to have around, especially on the cold, dark mornings.”

Although results have been disappointing, the absence of Edinburgh’s leading lights has allowed some of the understudies to shine and Bennett has been particularly impressed by 20-year-old full-back Jack Blain who scored two tries against Ulster and was picked in the Guinness Pro14 team of the week

“I think Jack has performed well enough that you’re not going to see him leave the side,” said Bennett. “He has done brilliantly over the past six weeks. He has been one of our best players. He has had his chance and he has taken it.”

Another 20-year-old, stand-off Nathan Chamberlain, has also flourished, taking his opportunity in the absence of Jaco van der Walt who was called up by Scotland.

“It is going to be good to have Jaco back,” acknowledged Bennett. “But I think Chambo has stepped up really well. In and around training he is a different guy now with that belief and confidence from having had a couple of games. He has shown us what he can do and he has grown in the last few weeks.”

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