Edinburgh are sweating over the availability of winger Duhan van der Merwe for Friday’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash as head coach Sean Everitt prepares for a “dangerous” Lions outfit.
The SA-born Scotland flyer limped off in the opening minutes of last week’s resounding 38-5 victory against the Dragons, wearing a protective boot after leaving the field.
The Scottish club issued an update on Monday that they are awaiting the results of an MRI scan on Van der Merwe’s ankle.
Edinburgh’s win over the Dragons propelled Everitt’s men back into the Vodacom URC’s top eight, but the former Sharks boss admitted the performance was far from perfect.
ALSO: Cash credits Glasgow for ‘attacking masterclass’
“We had a lot of opportunities in the first 20 minutes and didn’t quite get over the line, but the pressure counted at the end,” he told the club’s website. The South African also praised his team’s defensive discipline, calling it “a massive improvement”
Looking ahead to the Lions clash in the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup at Hive Stadium, Everitt acknowledged the challenge posed by the visitors.
Ivan van Rooyen’s Pride are already in Scotland after their URC loss to Glasgow, and hungry to bounce back from a 42-0 hammering against the Warriors.
“The Lions would have loved that opportunity [on Friday] with the number of balls we coughed up. That’s what made us suffer at Ellis Park,” Everitt said, referring to Edinburgh’s 55-21 loss in Johannesburg earlier in the season.
“The Lions are a dangerous team, full of athletes, with speed among the loose trio and outside backs.”
Photo: Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images
