EDINBURGH coach Mike Blair has selected Charlie Savala as one of five changes to his team to face Glasgow tonight, praising the young Australian’s self-belief and contrasting it with what he regards as a defeatist streak within Scottish sporting culture.
Blair could have selected Scotland international Jaco van der Walt to start at No 10, but instead has named him on the bench. Blair Kinghorn was also in with a chance of being passed fit again after suffering a back spasm and being replaced by Savala early in last week’s Champions Cup win over Castres.
In the event, however, he insisted he had every confidence in the 22-year-old Savala, who qualifies for Scotland as his father is from Ayr but was himself born and bred in Sydney. “Charlie has developed a huge amount over the last 18 months,” Blair said. “He is leading our attack well, his understanding of momentum is much improved, and he did well when he came on against Castres in a high-pressure game.
