Edinburgh Rugby: Jaco van der Walt open to positional switch as Blair Kinghorn takes over at 10

He made his Scotland breakthrough last season but a combination of injury and Blair Kinghorn’s fine form has left Jaco van der Walt on the periphery for Edinburgh for much of the current campaign.

The experienced playmaker is now back to full fitness and believes he can still play an important role as the club chase honours on two fronts. Van der Walt played the final 26 minutes of Saturday’s 41-19 victory over Bath, stepping off the bench to help set up Emiliano Boffelli for his second try of the night.

It is a role he has had to become accustomed to this season, although he did play the full 80 against Pau in the Challenge Cup, contributing 12 points to the 54-5 win.

The decision to reinvent Kinghorn as a stand-off has seen van der Walt lose his status as the club’s first-choice. Kinghorn has revelled in his new role, a fact acknowledged by his rival for the No 10 jersey.

“It has not been an ideal season for myself,” said van der Walt, who made his Scotland debut against Ireland in the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. “But it has been good for the squad and any game time is perfect. I was fortunate enough to get some at the weekend and it was awesome to represent the club.

“I appreciate any position I can play. Obviously I would like to play 10, but Blair has been in great form this season. If I need to slot in at full-back or centre or wherever I am happy with that.

“He has been in absolutely great form. I think we feed off each other. I learned from him and it is the same the other way. It is difficult to say [what I have to do] at the moment because he is in really great form and all credit to him.”

Van der Walt made a bright start to the season and was player of the match in the 20-20 draw with Stormers in October,