Edinburgh welcome Glasgow back to Murrayfield this weekend in an attempt to redeem themselves after the disappointing end to their 3 year retention of the 1872 Cup. It may seem like Groundhog Day to players and fans but the Rainbow Cup has to be played even though we don’t really know how the Cup will be resolved in its latter stages.
Edinburgh feature seven changes to the side that visited Scotstoun last week, the new look back line now includes centre partnership of Chris Dean and James Johnstone looking to bring a mixture of strength and pace into the attack with impressive youngster Charlie Savala getting his first home game at Stand Off. Henry Pyrgos continues at Scrum Half, obviously to support Savala and brings a steady hand to Edinburgh’s back play. My Edinburgh player of the match last week Damien Hoyland is moved to the wing as Blair Kinghorn returns at Fullback and Eroni Sau covers for an injured Duhan at 11.
Kinghorn will become the youngest Edinburgh player to reach 100 appearances for the club this weekend since his debut against Benetton Rugby five years ago. He may be overshadowed at international level by the impressive quiff of Hogg but the solid reliability and powerful run of Kinghorn makes him a fans favourite and a huge congratulations must go his way on this achievement.
Three changes up front sees Stuart “Rambo” McInally, Marshall Sykes and Mesu Kunavula all promoted from the bench to start this game. Rambo slips in beside The Greatest Schoeman and WP Nel creating a front row that makes me giggle like a schoolboy! Jamie Hodgson joins Sykes in the Boiler room, the hard charging Luke Crosbie continues at back row alongside Kunavula and Viliame Mata completes the pack at 8.
Notable absentees are Grant Gilchrist, Big Duhan and Jamie Ritchie who are all injured and Mark Bennet who is now serving a three week ban for his Red Card last week.
Edinburgh have a chance to right some wrongs on Saturday night against the Weeg. Their strong defence and individual brilliance of certain players really showed that Glasgow are not to be written off. Edinburgh’s set piece will be strong and the forward pack should be dominant but will the new combinations in the back line unlock Glasgow’s defence? I really do hope so as I would like to get the picture of Ryan Wilson’s smug face out of my mind!
Edinburgh Rugby team to play Glasgow Warriors, Saturday 15th May at Murrayfield, 7.35pm Kick Off
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Stuart McInally CC
3. WP Nel
4. Marshall Sykes
5. Jamie Hodgson
6. Mesu Kunavula
7. Luke Crosbie CC
8. Viliame Mata
9. Henry Pyrgos
10. Charlie Savala
11. Eroni Sau
12. Chris Dean
13. James Johnstone
14. Damien Hoyland
15. Blair Kinghorn
16. Mike Willemse, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Lee-Roy Atalifo, 19. Ally Miller, 20. Connor Boyle 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Jack Blain, 23. George Taylor.
