Alan Solomons may only have been in Scotland for a few months but the Edinburgh coach knows the script off by heart already.
Shorn of core players by the national team's preparations to face Japan in eight days' time, if Solomons feels frustrated at having to field an understrength side against Zebre at Murrayfield tonight he was keeping those sentiments well under wraps when he was asked about the matter yesterday.
"The national side is paramount and that is the real showcase for Scottish rugby," said the loyal Solomons. "I am chuffed for all the guys who have been selected for the national squad and it is a wonderful thing and is good for them and Edinburgh Rugby. Of course you miss your top players who are not available, but that is the way it is. One has to look at it in a positive light."
The most obvious omissions from the side, as Edinburgh try to back up last week's win against Treviso by completing an Italian double, are Greig Laidlaw, Matt Scott, Nick De Luca, Ross Ford and Dave Denton. Solomons will also have to do without Tim Visser, who suffered a fractured leg and ankle ligament damage in the Treviso match. However, the coach did his best to look for the cloud's silver lining, stressing the fact that a number of peripheral players now have a chance to show what they can do.
The fact that Greig Tonks, Grant Gilchrist, Ally Dickinson and Geoff Cross have been released from Scotland duty gives a strong indication that none will be close to the starting lineup against Japan. But in his attempt to make a virtue of adversity, Solomons concentrated on players like centre Ben Atiga, hooker Aleki Lutui and scrum-half Sean Kennedy, all of whom have had their opportunities limited by the presence of more established players.
Solomons said: "Because we have had a pre-season in season we have been consistent in selection but we have not been able to apply any sort of rotation. A lot of guys have not had opportunities because we have had to do what we have to do because of this situation. This presents a wonderful chance for a lot of players who perhaps have not had the opportunity so far. We will get a good view now of the depth of the squad."
In his pivotal position, Kennedy is likely to be the most conspicuous of the understudies. Now 22, he is past the stage where he should be judged as a promising newcomer, and has to deliver a performance that proves he can be counted among the grown-ups at the club. Kennedy's star seemed to be in the ascendant last season when, with Chris Cusiter injured, he was brought into the Glasgow side and was subsequently added to the Scotland training squad, but opportunities have been few at Edinburgh since he returned to the capital side.
"This season, Greig [Laidlaw] is number one for Scotland and captain here so it's obviously a bit different," said Kennedy. "But, at the start of the season I knew that, realistically, I would probably have to wait till now to get a chance to get a run. As it happened, Greig got injured at the start of the season so I got a chance then, but in my own mind it was always going to be now before I really got a chance to get a game."
Kennedy made an impressive cameo appearance for Heriot's in their RBS Premiership victory over Melrose at Goldenacre last weekend. But he admitted that progress has been difficult as game time has been so hard to come by this season.
"Getting in the Scotland squad last year was a big surprise for me," he explained. "It's not something I thought was going to happen at the time. I found it quite easy to come here. I'm learning a lot from Greig and the coaches, working with the skills coaches as well. But, obviously, as a player you want to play. That's been the hard part with having Greig here. So getting a run with Heriot's last weekend was good for me. Match fitness is not something you're going to get by jumping on a bike. At the same time, the Scottish Premiership is actually quite good at the moment, especially with teams in the B&I Cup as well. It is close to the level of the pro game."
A year ago, a game against Zebre was pretty much a guaranteed four-pointer for any side in the PRO12 as the newly created side from Parma failed to win a single game. Zebre finally broke their duck with an away victory over Cardiff Blues six weeks ago, and they came close to claiming a second Welsh scalp when they drew with Scarlets last weekend.
The game may also mark the return of Ross Rennie, the Scotland flanker, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, and who has been named on the bench. However, Solomons suggested it is by no means certain that Rennie will get on the pitch. "We will have to see how the game pans out," said the coach. "Ross is a very talented player, but I have not seen much of him yet."
Glasgow will this morning name their side to face Connacht in Galway tomorrow shortly before they depart for the west of Ireland. The indications yesterday were that flanker Chris Fusaro, scrum-half Cusiter and lock Al Kellock will all be part of the Warriors' match squad, which suggests, in turn, that the trio will not be in the Scotland starting line-up against Japan next weekend.
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