Edinburgh vs Leinster 22nd March

Edinburgh vs Leinster
Date: 22/03/2019
KO: 19.35
Location: BT Murrayfield
TV: Prem Sports & EIR Sport

Leinster have the edge when it comes to....well everything to be fair.

Teams:

Edinburgh -

Leinster-

From an Edinburgh point of view, good to see Scott and Barclay in the side. Shame we've lost Kinghorn though.

That's a tasty Edinburgh back row.

Really strong Edinburgh team against a strong Leinster team - should be a great game.

Brilliant to see Barclay and Scott back.

I think we can win this (Leinster don't like playing us at home!) but will need a big performance. Would be a huge confidence boost if we won.

I just hope, Scott & Barclay aren't rusty, they're coming in for a hell of a run of games, and we need everyone on form. Every game for us now is a cup final.

RDW wrote:Really strong Edinburgh team against a strong Leinster team - should be a great game.

Brilliant to see Barclay and Scott back.

I think we can win this (Leinster don't like playing us at home!) but will need a big performance. Would be a huge confidence boost if we won.

For what's worth, I think you're going to get absolutely pumped, but I'm almost always wrong except when I'm not.

That is a powerful Edinburgh side. From the in-form side, they are missing only Kinghorn, Gilchrist and McInally. Leinster have put out a clear second choice side.

After coughing up points against the little'uns over the course of the season, Edinburgh has to pick up points in unexpected places. This is a fantastic opportunity

Eejit wrote:

RDW wrote:Really strong Edinburgh team against a strong Leinster team - should be a great game.

Brilliant to see Barclay and Scott back.

I think we can win this (Leinster don't like playing us at home!) but will need a big performance. Would be a huge confidence boost if we won.

For what's worth, I think you're going to get absolutely pumped, but I'm almost always wrong except when I'm not.

To be honest it would be a bit weird if you had faith in us so I'm fine with that!

Scotland international back-row John Barclay will make his long-awaited Edinburgh debut in tomorrow night's Guinness PRO14 showdown with reigning champions Leinster at BT Murrayfield (Friday 22 March, kick-off 7.35pm).

The 71-times capped flanker is named in a starting XV that features 10 internationalists – four of whom started in last weekend’s remarkable 38-38 Calcutta Cup draw at Twickenham. Scotland stars Darcy Graham, Hamish Watson, Ben Toolis and WP Nel all return for tomorrow night’s crunch match.

The team selection also sees Scotland centre Matt Scott return to action for the first time in over five months following a head injury sustained against RC Toulon back in October.

Ahead of the fixture, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We need to be as strong as we can be because we’ve had some poor results where we’ve slipped up where we shouldn’t have.

“That’s put us in a situation where, with four league games to go, we’re probably going to have to win all of them if we want to qualify for the play-offs.

“There’s been a lot of disruption over the last two months because of the Six Nations, but it is now back to the bread and butter of the league and making sure we get it right tomorrow night.”

“It’ll be good to have John [Barclay] back on the field and he can share his experience with the rest of the team.

“He’s a fantastic player and his leadership around the group and his knowledge of the game is very, very good, and that could well be important for us in the run-in.”

A revamped back-three sees Graham return to club action following last weekend’s two-try performance against England in the Guinness Six Nations.

The winger is joined by fullback Dougie Fife and wing Duhan van der Merwe, with both players returning from injuries that kept them out of the defeat to Benetton two weeks ago.

Scott – who makes his seventh start of the season - is partnered by James Johnstone in midfield, with the latter scoring his seventh try of the season against Benetton a fortnight ago.

Experienced scrum-half Henry Pyrgos captains the side, with Jaco van der Walt at stand-off.

Pierre Schoeman is named at loosehead prop and packs down alongside Scotland pairing Ross Ford and Nel, while Toolis is partnered by fellow club centurion Fraser McKenzie in the second-row.

Barclay makes his debut at blindside flanker with Scotland star Watson at openside, while Fijian international No. 8 Viliame Mata returns to the No. 8 jersey.



Edinburgh team to face Leinster at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday 22 March (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports



15. Dougie Fife (122)



14. Darcy Graham (19)

13. James Johnstone (38)

12. Matt Scott (80)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (36)



10. Jaco van der Walt (35)

9. Henry Pyrgos (19) CAPTAIN



1. Pierre Schoeman (18)

2. Ross Ford (194)

3. WP Nel (129)

4. Fraser McKenzie (112)

5. Ben Toolis (105)

6. John Barclay*

7. Hamish Watson (95)

8. Viliame Mata (55)



Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton (11); 17. Allan Dell (57); 18. Simon Berghan (62); 19. Callum Hunter-Hill (15); 20. Magnus Bradbury (60); 21. Charlie Shiel (2); 22. Simon Hickey (16); 23. Chris Dean (83)



Unavailable due to injury: Lewis Carmichael; David Cherry; Luke Hamilton; Blair Kinghorn



Edinburgh competitive debut*

It's a good edinburgh team with even some impact on the bench with Maggy and Dean.

We'd obviously have Blarehorn, Gilco and McInally starting but otherwise that's the first team out there

Massive chance to take some points off Leinster here and get the league back on track

That Leinster side looks under strength and out of position selections. Josh Murphy - a backrower - is playing at lock. And Frawley - a 10/12 - somewhat out of position at 15. Good to see Leavy making his comeback and Reid is moved out one to accommodate the returning Tomane. Going by shirt numbers, Jimmy O’Brien is on the bench for Ross Byrne at outhalf having only played as wing/midfield to date. And the bench replacements at lock and backrow (Dunne & Dowling) have 2 senior caps each. Some curious combinations - one would almost think that Leinster had already qualified for the semis and were just experimenting at this stage.

Strong looking Edinburgh side - interesting to see that Henners Piecrust is captain.

Monster Edinburgh back row - possibly the best in the Pro14 if everyone's on form.

Looks to me like the Ladyboys are resting players ahead of next week. The Luvvies could do with 5 points tonight and might actually do it.
Bru has invited Baz the nippy ex-9 and myself up to Noocassel for the Euro finals weekend I think it could well be a Luvvies-Ladyboys final. But I can safely predict the Ladyboys won't start the XV which are starting tonight.

Still a very strong Leinster, and that 2nd XV has pumped a lot of teams this season! 

We've got lots of internationals back so we should still have s good chance of a win.

I'm just concerned about Pyrgos being captain - whenever he is captain he usually has a shocker.

Pot Hale wrote:That Leinster side looks under strength and out of position selections.  Josh Murphy - a backrower - is playing at lock. And Frawley - a 10/12 - somewhat out of position at 15.  Good to see Leavy making his comeback and Reid is moved out one to accommodate the returning Tomane.  Going by shirt numbers, Jimmy O’Brien is on the bench for Ross Byrne at outhalf having only played as wing/midfield to date.  And the bench replacements at lock and backrow (Dunne & Dowling) have 2 senior caps each.  Some curious combinations - one would almost think that Leinster had already qualified for the semis and were just experimenting at this stage.

Some of it feels like Leo is writing this game off (Porter on the bench with Bent starting at LH).  On the outhalf, Ross' cover is Frawley and Noel Reid, so Leo's gone with centre cover and wing cover on the bench as there are 3 outhalves on the field that can move in a substitution.

Second row is strange for Josh Murphy.  I'd have Ruddock as our emergency lock cover rather than Josh (but what do I know).  I did like the look of Dunne coming through but only seen bits of his play so far.  4 backrowers on the field makes it look like they should be attacking breakdowns but decent chance despite the set up they end up not committing to the breakdown and just get in each others way in open play.

Tomane seems to get plenty of respect within the team and from the other SH players.  For me he has been a complete bust so far of a signing, there was better quality in the academy who could have been rewarded with more minutes.  I can't remember a game where he demonstrated his 'experience' along the backline.

I fear Edinburgh by more than 8. Would wonder if they get the 4 tries to boot (weather and yellow cards might be factors on that).

Anyone else got no sound on premier 2?

No, lip reading skills required!

Hopefully they will sort it out by ko

They have had a few technical hitches this year

We have sound!

There twitter operator is on the ball.

I tweeted him to say no sound and got a reply within about 30 secs!

Not sure if this is just extended ads whilst they try and replace the fuse or is actually sorted!

Coverage is pretty rubbish so far - come back from an extended ad mid conversation, then go straight back to another ad!

Not gonna lie, it's very strange seeing John Barclay in an Edinburgh jersey!

Easing Barclay back into things gently with 5 minutes of play!

Leinster looking very dangerous in attack I've got to say - lightening fast play.

FFS VDW

Yellow probably fair - really reckless and needless

It's freightening how good Leinster are in attack no matter who is playing

We're getting smashed in every contact - even our big carriers. We're getting no go forwards.

Strange decision to go for corner - could do with some points

Lots of sly hands in rucks from Leinster - clever cheating

Had to work really hard for that but huge to get the try

Really is hard work being an Edinburgh fan!!!!

A basic ruck set up with plenty players in support and we don't clear out properly. So sloppy.

Am I the only one here btw??

Twice Cronin has got in the way of 9 - finally penalised

Well that's a pleasant surprise after such a bad start - huge boost!

Watching on RugbyPass online sitting in pub. Perfect signal and sound.

Just got in. Might be in for some half of rugby here.

Barclay and Scott looking good on their comebacks - how long can they keep it up!

Had to pause the game for dinner, so just caught up

That was a mighty shove for the penalty try, Edinburgh scrum well on top

Lineout has gone to pot with Toolis off

Lineout's become a shambles!

Edinburgh lineout not functioning without Toolis

Harsh on Leinster there - they have been giving away a lot of penalties though

That was a harsh card, but I guess they had it coming

Harsh yellow.

Got to say, Ross ford has played really well!

Try Ford - truly the end of days.

Ross Ford, life in the old dog yet!

Eejit wrote:Harsh yellow.

They gave away a lot of penalties in the first half so the ref was looking for a reason

21-11 Edinburgh

That is a decent lead in a tight game

Edinburgh forwards well on top just now.

So what new way will Edinburgh find to throw this one away tonight?

I don't think VDM has touched the ball yet?

Hickey on then. I really rate Jaco Van Der Walt, how long till he likes the taste of haggis?