Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club

[djphilp]

So it's back to the drawing board for next week's clash with Matt Williams' Ulster. Can we stop churning out dreadful durge and actually play rugby?

[Derrick Lee's #1 Fan]

Ulster are our bogey team and they know it. They'll be looking forward to kick-starting their season against us and on current form I can't see them not doing it.
_________________

[ade294]

Narrow victory for Edinburgh and a great day out

[Derrick Lee's #1 Fan]

[ade294]

[jamiet]

It wouldn't suprise me a bit that as the team has not yet been announced , we are playing Ulster and the Heineken Cup is next week there must be debate of resting players again.

[Jon]

From the Evening News, looks like you are right jamiet... lets hope it doesn't come back to bite us! Having said that I still like the overall shape of the team (although would have Fordy and Crossy in) - both on the bench so will get game time.


Kerr's promotion to the starting line up in place of Cross is one of eight changes to the Edinburgh side, with Jim Thompson making his first start at full back for the injured Chris Paterson and Scott Newlands replacing Alan MacDonald, who has also been forced out, while John Houston, Andrew Kelly and Ben Gissing all return and the Blair brothers, David and Mike, link up at half back.

• Edinburgh: J Thompson, J Houston, H Southwell, N De Luca, M Robertson, D Blair, M Blair, A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Kerr, J Hamilton, B Gissing, M Mustchin, A Hogg, S Newlands. Subs: R Ford, G Cross, C Hamilton, C Fusaro, G Laidlaw, P Godman, C MacRae.[/quote]

[ade294]

Don't think that would be a good idea, Ulster might be struggling just now, but I'm fairly sure they will view this as a game they can win and will be putting their strongest side out. We will need to be at our best to take something from this.

[Derrick Lee's #1 Fan]

As long as the changes are being made by Andy Robinson in Edinburgh's best interests...no doubt the usual suspects will reassure me that the former remains true, though with regard to the latter I'd query whether making quite so many changes all at once is very wise.
_________________

[ratty]

I think this actually looks a pretty good team. I've been looking forward to seeing Houston return although think he's a better 12. The pack looks to have a good shape to it and has both bulk and experience.

[Oldsalt]

If the back row can get the better of Ferris, Pollock and Diack then a win is possible if the team play to their potential.
Penalties may decide the issue so our discipline must be better than Ulster and kicking must be accurate.
Yes, quite surprised by the number of changes but I'm not yet convinced that we are really looking towards the HC matches. There is no point in having the squad if you don't use it. Don't really know the ages of the Ulster team but if I remember correctly Ulster had at least six guys under 22 years of age out on the pitch last match, so the changes might not be such a calculated risk after all. Would an Edinburgh coach be brave enough to play the young inexperienced players in the away matches as Matt Williams did end of last season. Ulster do have some good young talent coming through and sometime soon they will click, just hope it's not tomorrow evening.
Good luck Edinburgh

[Rugby Girl]

THOMPSON READY TO BURST OUT OF THE BLOCKS

Jim Thompson will make his first ever Magners League start for Edinburgh at Ulster on Friday night (3 October, kick off 7.30pm) and jokes his father, horseracing presenter Derek, has already checked the odds on him to score the first try.

Full-back Chris Paterson was ruled out for the trip to Belfast with an ankle problem paving the way for Thompson – grandson of celebrated rugby commentator, Bill McLaren – to make his full debut for Edinburgh.

As a result, Thompson says he is saddened by Paterson’s injury, but adds he, and his famous tipster dad, are both thrilled by his call-up into the starting line-up.

Thompson said: “I’m really looking forward to it. It is a shame that Mossy (Paterson) is out injured and I feel for him.

“But it has created an opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to starting for Edinburgh and playing as well as I can.

“I gave my Dad a wee text earlier on and he replied: ‘Well done son!’

“Unfortunately he can’t make it over to Belfast, but I’m sure he has already checked the odds on me scoring the first try!”

After making his Magners League bow as a replacement at Leinster last season, the 23-year-old had to wait 12 months before sampling his next taste of professional rugby.

But National Academy graduate Thompson says he believes he has matured into a better player over the past year; largely thanks to his time on the IRB World Sevens circuit and playing with his club team, Heriot’s

He added: “I learned a lot in between my first game for Edinburgh and my second game, largely thanks to the education I’ve received in the Scottish Rugby set-up.

“I have developed physically over the 12 months and I’ve been away with Scotland Sevens which has also helped my game.

“Coming on as a replacement over the past two games has really given me an insight as to where you need to be in order to play Magners League rugby and I feel like I’m a lot better equipped to do that now.

"Heriot’s has also been a great place for me to develop my rugby and you only have to look at the number of players who have gone from there on to become capped internationalists.

“Bob McKillop and George Breckenridge – the coaches – have really helped turn the place into a great breeding ground for up-and-coming players.

“They helped John Houston as well and I would say they have been a big help to me.”

Former Heriot’s team-mate John Houston joins Thompson in the back-three after successfully recovering from a long-term pelvic injury.

Houston, last season’s Newcomer of the Year, endorsed Thompson’s promotion into the number 15 shirt and hopes they will rekindle their on-field understanding.

Houston said: “It is good to see Jim get a start because he is a really gifted player.

“I’ve enjoyed playing alongside him every time we’ve played together, so I’m looking forward to linking up with him again.”

David Blair makes his first start of the campaign in a half-back combination with elder brother Mike who was rested for the match at Rodney Parade.

Andrew Kelly – nearing his 100th appearance for Edinburgh – is handed the number two shirt with regular first choice hooker Ross Ford named amongst the replacements.

In the second row, Ben Gissing returns to the starting line-up at the expense of Craig Hamilton while on the bench, National Academy flanker Chris Fusaro could make his debut for Edinburgh.

Lock Steve Turnbull (fractured ankle) is expected to be sidelined for a lengthy period of time while Paterson (ankle) and Alan MacDonald (eye) join Simon Webster (hip), David Callam (hip), Simon Cross (ribs) and Roland Reid (knee) on the injury list.

Meanwhile, long term absentees Ben Cairns (knee ligament), Ross Rennie (knee), and Matt Dey (shoulder) are still recovering.

Edinburgh Rugby Club squad to play Ulster at Ravenhill (Friday 3 October, kick off 7.30pm)

15 Jim Thompson

14 John Houston
13 Hugo Southwell
12 Nick De Luca
11 Mark Robertson

10 David Blair
9 Mike Blair (captain)

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Gavin Kerr
4 Jim Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing
6 Matt Mustchin
7 Allister Hogg
8 Scott Newlands


Substitutes: Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Craig Hamilton, Chris Fusaro*, Greig Laidlaw, Phil Godman, Calum MacRae.

* = denotes National Academy player

[jrp]

Any news on Rennie, Cairns and Callum?

We will be in line for another spanking in the HEC unless we start to get close to a full side.

[fifelass]

Havent seen game but another loss. Not good enough

[kilo-gram]

13-9 final score. Have we forgotten how to score tries???