Edinburgh Rugby prop Willem ‘WP’ Nel will lead the team out as the club’s 24th centurion against Leinster at BT Murrayfield tonight (kick-off 7.35pm).
The Scotland tighthead with 15 caps is out of contract at the end of the season, and apparently Edinburgh haven’t started contract talks with one of Europe’s top props, who signed for the capital outfit ahead of the 2012/13 season as a virtual unknown outside of South Africa.
Edinburgh prop W P Nel says SRU not spoken to him about extending his contract that runs out at end of season.They have to act now!
— Rob Robertson (@SDM_Robertson) 15 September 2016
Head Coach Alan Solomons has made just three changes from the team that defeated Scarlets 20-9 last weekend with Jamie Ritchie rested and Magnus “Maggie” Bradbury switching to the blindside. John Hardie is recovering from a head knock under the protocols so Hamish Watson comes in and all of which gives us a look at Tongan internationalist Viliami Fihaki who will make his competitive debut for the club at number 8.
Nicely settled in, Glenn Bryce continues at full-back with last week’s try-scorer Michael Allen and the underused Tom Brown remaining on the wings.
Sasa Tofilau makes his third competitive start for the club at outside-centre with Phil Burleigh keeping a hold of the number 12 shirt.
Last week’s Guinness Man of the Match Duncan Weir and Nathan Fowles continue to build their half-back partnership as they make their third consecutive start together.
Centurion Nel, Ross Ford and Rory Sutherland form the front-row with captain Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis starting once again at lock.
Leinster will have been stung by the result against Glasgow that left them with nothing, and Edinburgh may find them a considerably tougher proposition. Do the capital men have the try scoring weapons to unlock what was at times a porous Dublin backline like Tommy Seymour did?
Edinburgh Rugby team to play Leinster
Guinness PRO12, BT Murrayfield, Friday 16 September, kick-off 7.35pm – live on BBC ALBA
15. Glenn Bryce
14. Michael Allen
13. Sasa Tofilau
12. Phil Burleigh
11. Tom Brown
10. Duncan Weir
9. Nathan Fowles
1. Rory Sutherland
2. Ross Ford
3. WP Nel
4. Ben Toolis
5. Grant Gilchrist (C)
6. Magnus Bradbury
7. Hamish Watson
8. Viliami Fihaki
Substitutes:
16. Stuart McInally
17. Allan Dell
18. Kevin Bryce
19. Fraser McKenzie
20. Cornell Du Preez
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Solomoni Rasolea
23. Blair Kinghorn
Players not available due to injury: Alasdair Dickinson (hamstring), Simon Berghan (foot), Anton Bresler (groin), Jack Cosgrove (knee), John Hardie (concussion), Nasi Manu (ribs), Jason Tovey (wrist), Will Helu (hamstring), Damien Hoyland (groin).
By a strange quirk of fate, Cardiff Blues vs Glasgow Warriors could be the pick of the round with both teams still unbeaten and Tommy Seymour sitting on 6 tries, but it’s not on the television. Let’s hope they get a good crowd at the Arms Park, including the Warrior Nation who are travelling in increasing numbers to support their club.
Centre Nick Grigg will make his first competitive start for Glasgow Warriors tonight while outside him Hogg and Seymour continue their early bid for complete control of the Pro12 Dream Team. This time Lee Jones is given a run ahead of Leonardo Sarto who has been very impressive in his early outings for the Warriors. The welcome face of Mark Bennett, returned from Olympic glory, waits on the bench.
There’s also a return for the bearded one: Josh Strauss, who will ease Townsend’s back row problems considerably. While the back division isn’t perhaps the top rank, the pack has no such issues and should be able to provide a platform.
Both Ali Price and Rory Clegg make their first starts of the season at half-back, while Peter Horne shifts to inside centre to accompany Grigg. In related news, Finn Russell is due to resume playing for Ayr this weekend which would see him in consideration for Glasgow’s game against Ulster.
Confirmation that @finn_russell will make his return this weekend for @OfficialAyrRFC https://t.co/eorKHgQ837 pic.twitter.com/iilWYFr7sm
— Glasgow Warriors ? (@GlasgowWarriors) 15 September 2016
Of the opposition, coach Townsend said this: “Cardiff have started the season very strongly and can score tries from anywhere. They have had excellent wins against Edinburgh and Munster and we’re going to need to improve defensively to get a positive result at the Arms Park tomorrow night.”
Glasgow Warriors team to play Cardiff Blues at BT Sport Arms Park, Friday 16 September (kick-off 7pm):
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Nick Grigg
12. Peter Horne
11. Lee Jones
10. Rory Clegg
9. Ali Price
1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Tim Swinson
5. Jonny Gray (C)
6. Rob Harley
7. Ryan Wilson
8. Josh Strauss
Replacements
16. Pat MacArthur
17. Alex Allan
18. Sila Puafisi
19. Greg Peterson
20. Lewis Wynne
21. Grayson Hart
22. Mark Bennett
23. Rory Hughes
Not available due to injury: Adam Ashe (hip / foot), Scott Cummings (shoulder), Simone Favaro (shoulder), Chris Fusaro (knees), Ryan Grant (back), Sam Johnson (shoulder), Sean Lamont (foot), Henry Pyrgos (knee) and D’arcy Rae (back).
In other news, the Scottish Rugby Board today unanimously voted Colin Grassie as its new Chairman, to take over from Sir Moir Lockhead OBE with effect from 1 January 2017.
Sir Moir was due to retire in June 2017 but has decided to step down earlier to enable a new Chairman to help drive forward Scottish Rugby’s modernisation and commercial strategies. A new independent non-executive director will now be sought, with a view to that person taking up office early in 2017. Colin Grassie joined the Scottish Rugby Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director in July 2012 having been UK CEO and a member of the Group Executive Committee at Deutsche Bank. He was re-appointed to the Scottish Rugby Board in July 2015 and will take on the role of Chairman for a 3-year period.