(Big) Ben Toolis returns to Edinburgh’s starting line-up after a five month lay-off to help the team say goodbye to BT Murrayfield on Saturday evening in the penultimate fixture of the Guinness Rainbow Cup. Three more of the club’s internationalists re-join the team with him to take on Ulster to hopefully win their final game at BTM before the club moves into their new, purpose built home.
Jamie Ritchie returns as Captain alongside a bubble wrapped Hamish Watson and Duhan van der Merwe just days after being named Scotland skipper for Mike Blair’s youthful summer tour party.
Up front it’s a great mix of experience and youth. Teenager Patrick Harrison joins South African duo Boan Venter and WP Nel in the front row, Marshall Sykes and Ben Toolis complete the tight five. Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson resume their ball hunting partnership with Ben Muncaster donning the number eight jersey.
Charlie Shiel starts at scrum half alongside the ferocious mullet of Blair Kinghorn at ten. George Taylor and James Johnstone partner up in the centre with Duhan van der Merwe and Eroni Sau taking up station on the wings. The FOSROC Academy full back Harry Paterson makes his club debut at fifteen with FOSROC Super6 debutants Cammy Hutchison and Harri Morris named on the bench completing the ten changes Richard Cockerill has made to the side.
“We’re pleased to welcome the return of some quality, experienced players alongside some exciting young talent for our final match at BT Murrayfield” said the Head Coach.
“Their experience will be invaluable to the young players who have developed alongside them in training this season and now get either another or a first chance to put a performance out there in an Edinburgh shirt and show us what they’re about”.
Edinburgh have nothing to lose in this game. Ulster will be a tough challenge and have a few experienced old heads in their squad who will test our youngsters and be a continual threat to our defence. The spotlight will be on Edinburgh’s attack however. Shiel will bring pace, Duhan and Sau will bring physicality no doubt but how the ball is handled through Kinghorn, Taylor and Johnstone will be the test to see if things are changing.
BT Murrayfield has been a great host for Edinburgh Rugby, I hope we have a fitting end to the enjoyable time we as fans have had there.
Edinburgh: Harry Paterson, Eroni Sau, James Johnstone, George Taylor, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Charlie Shiel; Boan Venter, Patrick Harrison, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Ben Toolis, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Ben Muncaster
Replacements: Mike Willemse, Pierre Schoeman, Simon Berghan, Mesu Kunavula, Harri Morris, Henry Pyrgos, Nathan Chamberlain, Cammy Hutchison
