“Hector, unfortunately, over the last couple of years since I’ve been here, hasn’t played much rugby due to injury [including a fractured wrist], but he’s got through a couple of months now where he has trained exceptionally well,” said Everitt. “We just feel that he could be something for the future in Scotland. We would love to see what he can do in a game situation.
“I actually told Hector a couple of weeks ago that he was going to start against Zebre and that was just for him to get an understanding that it’s serious and that we’re serious about what his role is in our group.
“He’s responded well and, like I said, he’s very excited. He is a dangerous scrum-half who’s got a good all-round skill-set. He’s a dangerous nine, a running nine, who links well with the outside backs when there’s an opportunity on a line break. He’s also a popular guy within our group. The players want to see him do well, and there was a lot of excitement around his selection this week.
“We’ve seen some really good tries that he’s scored for Scotland under-20 as well. So hopefully he can show us that same form.”
“When you look at that match-day 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,” Everitt added. “It’s genuinely exciting to see the next generation stepping up and putting their hands up at this level.
“We’re also back at Hive Stadium, which means a great deal to this group. Playing in front of our home support gives everyone a lift – the players are really looking forward to Friday night and we want to put on a performance that this city can be proud of.”
26-year-old Connor Boyle doesn’t sit in the same age profile as Patterson, Thomson and Blyth Lafferty, but a combination of a lengthy knee injury and competition for places in the back-row has limited his game-time and progress. He gets a hit-out tomorrow night playing slightly out of position at No 8, in a fresh looking back-row alongside Freddy Douglas (20) and Liam McConnell (21), with Tom Currie (21 and two previous appearances) providing cover from the bench.
“He [Boyle] is a specialist openside, but we do have injuries [at No 8], and we don’t have too many players available that can play in that position other than Tom Currie, who’s on the bench for us,” said Everitt.
“I think it will be great for us to try a different combination where we might have two jacklers on the field, which could create chaos at the breakdown.
“Connor showed promise in the games that he has played for us, whether it be off the bench or starting. So it’s a great opportunity for him to put his hand up. He is playing amongst two young back-rowers, and they’ll be looking at him for some guidance on the field as well as leadership.
“Tom [Currie] did play for us earlier in the season. It was our plan to give him more time in that jersey. But unfortunately, due to injury, his time was limited. He’s back to full fitness now, and we hope that he can put in a good showing because he’s a player of great potential.
“We’re in a transition phase, so you can look at it twofold,” Everitt added. “You can see it as rebuilding. I haven’t used that word, ‘rebuilding’, because we’ve still kept a core of our Scottish international players in our squad.
“But what’s exciting for me is that we’re bringing in the next generation of Scottish rugby players, and they’ve performed admirably. And with more time on the field, they’re just going to get better and better.
“I think if you look at the Lions team at the moment, they’ve been together now for four years, and you can see it’s their fourth season together.
“And obviously there were a few bumps in the road with regards to them, but they’re now reaching fruition of what they’ve put together. So I would say it’s exciting. I think younger players bring energy, a bit of freshness to the squad as well.
“And certainly, the players that we have within our group are really brave and confident, and you can see that in the performances of Liam [McConnell] and Freddy [Douglas]. OBL [Blyth-Lafferty] has grown every week that he’s played in the jersey.
“Mal Satala, we forget that he’s 21 years old. He’s had big boots to fill on the left wing with Duhan not being there, and I think he’s performed admirably. So the more time these youngsters are going to get, the better they’re going to get.
“But it will be great to get the fans and the support around these youngsters, so that we can expedite the progress.”
Edinburgh (versus Zebre @ Hive Stadium, on Friday, kick-off 7.45pm GMT): P O’Conor; D Graham, M Tuipulotu, F Thomson, M Satala; R Thompson, H Patterson; P Schoeman, E Ashman, O Blyth-Lafferty, M Sykes, G Gilchrist ©, L McConnell, F Douglas, C Boyle. Replacements: D Richardson, B Venter, P Hill, G Young, B Currie, B Vellacott, C Scott, J Brown.
Unavailable: Charlie McCaig (knee), Rhys Litterick (achilles), Rob Carmichael (wrist), Luke Crosbie (hamstring), Sam Skinner (hamstring), Paddy Harrison (back), Conor McAlpine (hamstring), Wes Goosen (hand), Duhan van der Merwe (ankle), Harry Paterson (quad), Magnus Bradbury (ankle), Matt Currie (hamstring), Mikey Jones (bicep), Ben Muncaster (ankle), James Lang (ankle), D’arcy Rae (calf).
