Patterson makes pro debut as one of six Edinburgh changes
Edinburgh have made six changes for Friday's home URC match against Zebre, including a professional debut for scrum-half Hector Patterson. Mosese Tuipulotu and Findlay Thomson form a new-look centre partnership with James Lang and Matt Currie both out injured. In the forwards, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty replaces another injury absentee in D'arcy Rae, while Freddy Douglas starts at openside flanker and Connor Boyle shifts to number eight.
Ben Muncaster is out for the rest of the season with an ankle problem. "Injuries are never easy to take, but one of the things they do is open doors for players who are ready and waiting for their chance – and this week is a perfect example of that," head coach Sean Everitt said. "Hector [Patterson] has worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and he thoroughly deserves his opportunity.
Findlay [Thomson] coming back into the side is also a real boost for us, and it's great to see him firing again. "When you look at that matchday 23 and count 12 players who have come through this club's academy system, that tells you everything about the work being done behind the scenes. It's genuinely exciting to see the next generation stepping up and putting their hands up at this level.
" Edinburgh: O'Conor, Graham, M. Tuipulotu, Thomson, Satala, Thompson, Patterson; Schoeman, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Sykes, Gilchrist, McConnell, Douglas, Boyle. Replacements: Richardson, Venter, Hill, Young, T.
Currie, Vellacott, Scott, Brown.