Edinburgh Names Six Changes and Patterson Debut for Zebre

Overview

• Edinburgh, which hosts Zebre at Hive Stadium on Friday at 7:45pm GMT, named a refreshed matchday 23 with six changes and 12 academy graduates.
• Homegrown scrum-half Hector Patterson, 21, will make his professional debut after a long spell disrupted by injuries, including a fractured wrist.
• A lengthy injury list has sidelined several senior players, with absences including Duhan van der Merwe, Luke Crosbie, Sam Skinner and James Lang.
• Connor Boyle starts at number eight despite being an openside flanker, as Sean Everitt turns to a youthful back row of Boyle, Freddy Douglas and Liam McConnell.
• Edinburgh confirmed Australian coaches Tim Sampson and Brad Davis will take over attack and defence in the summer, and Everitt said external signings will bolster a transitioning squad.