Mike Blair has full faith in Blair Kinghorn ahead of crucial Zebre showdown
Prior to today’s clash against bottom of the table Zebre, Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair has reaffirmed his confidence in Blair Kinghorn as Edinburgh’s number 10.
Edinburgh are in desperate need of a win against their Italian rivals following their 1872 Cup decimation which adds up to five losses in their last five games.
Despite a shift to the wing to cover a wounded back three, the young head coach stressed this was a temporary shift for Kinghorn, given the restrictions on availability.
Blair has made nine changes to his side that has been decimated by injury as well as several players ruled out by the SRU’s rest protocols ahead of next month’s Six Nations campaign.
“We had an embarrassment of riches there but we have picked up a lot of injuries. Blair has obviously been capped many times by Scotland in that position and we feel that this is the best move for the balance of the team this week,” the head coach said.
“I’m really confident that Blair has shown enough over the last 18 months or so to merit that status as our number one 10. We are very fortunate that he is an international-class back three as well and is happy to help us out in that position this week,” he added.
This reassurance in Kinghorn follows the news that Ben Healy, currently at Munster, will be joining the ranks of the capital side at the end of the season.
“Blair was aware of the fact we were signing Ben Healy to add more competition. There are a couple of key positions we have to be able to fill with quality and he is up for the challenge of having some competition,” said the head coach.
Healy not only adds competition but also needed relief during the World Cup. Kinghorn, along with many of his clubmates will likely be on the plane to France and after a strong season over the Irish Sea, Healy will help keep the capital competitive during the tournament in France.
The Munster fly-half, 23, has had a 90% kick accuracy this season, and has scored 275 points in his 47 appearances since 2019. Healy also qualifies for Scotland via his grandparents.
While Healy will be a welcome addition for the start of the second season, Edinburgh’s current injuries are becoming a cause for concern. The latest players to miss out with a medical note include international stars Duhan van der Merwe and Emiliano Boffelli.
“We are hopeful we will train next week. We will see about their availability after that. They both have niggling injuries, nothing new to what they have had before, but they’re taking a longer time to heal than we would have hoped,” Blair said.
Edinburgh’s bench, made up of 6 forwards, reflects where their strength in the squad currently lies. The return of hooker Dave Cherry and number eight Nick Haining will see fans breathe a sigh of relief ahead of welcoming the Italians to the DAM health stadium.
Edinburgh will not be shown any respite despite their selection dilemmas. Their next two fixtures will be their remaining Champions Cup group stage games against Castres and Saracens.
Kinghorn’s diverse skill set will prove vital in today’s United Rugby Championship. The Scotland international has suddenly become the most capped player in the match day squad. While the players continue to have full faith in their head coach, this side cannot afford another loss as they stare down the barrel of a daunting schedule.
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