Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club

Frenchy wrote:

Friday Knight Lights wrote:

Tichtheid wrote:Awful news about Bennett's injury, but it raises a question. I like JJ and he's done well we he has come on, but it might be an opportunity to try Socino at 12, or maybe Christine and move Scott out to 13 for this game.
Bergs has slipped back a bit, WP and McCallum are the form guys at tighthead, Fordy really has to show us something this week.

Maybe we'll see some changes but it really is a must-win game after two late disappointments

Hopefully not, Glenn Bryce did nothing in two years for Edinburgh.

JJ, Dean, Socino, Scott, Taylor can cover it.

https://youtu.be/wwrpSSLDgMw?t=130

I accept did nothing is hyperbole but he wasn't good enough to merit another offer.

GB is a frustrating player, you watch him and think he is going to be great, then just seems to fade out of games. He is big, quick, runs good angles yet doesnt seem to effect games. Often wondered if 13 woud lbe a better posotion to keep him involved. Agree he didnt really do much to merit another contract but doesnt mean bringing him in isnt worht it if he is better than we have.

Is Hoyland injured, he seems to have disapeared?

dolf_lundgren wrote:Is Hoyland injured, he seems to have disapeared?

Fairly certain he had surgery either towards the end of last season or during the close season been out doing a lot of the promo work with Barclay from what I have seen.

Head Coach Richard Cockerill has issued a rallying call to the Edinburgh public, to come out in force to support their team in the first home game of the Guinness PRO14 season against Connacht at BT Murrayfield tomorrow night (Friday 14 September, kick-off 7.35pm).

“It would be great to have a big crowd and get in front of our own supporters, so we’ve got to match their passion with a fine performance – that’s going to be really important for us.”

Cockerill has made three changes to the side that faced Ulster in Belfast last weekend, with flanker Hamish Watson, wing Duhan van der Merwe and centre James Johnstone all coming into the starting XV.

Scotland star Watson – who was unavailable for selection last weekend due to the birth of his first child – is named in the back-row with fellow international Luke Hamilton who switches to to No.8 in the place of the injured, Bill Mata.

Mark Bennett drops out of contention due to injury and is replaced by Johnstone in midfield, whilst Van der Merwe returns to action after missing out on the trip to Belfast last weekend.

The South African winger is named in the place of Tom Brown, who fails to recover after picking up a knock against Ulster.

On his selection, Cockerill, said: “I know we’ve had two losses from two games, but we’re in a good place and that doesn’t tell the whole story.There’s a great spirit amongst the camp.


We just need to make sure that we put in the same performance against Connacht as we did against Ulster, and we’ll be fine.

“Connacht have had a pretty good start. They just lost to Glasgow, but could have won that at the death and then they had a pretty big win against Zebre last weekend.

“They’re playing some really good stuff. Andy Friend seems to have had a really big impact on them and they’re playing with the ball in hand.”

In the back-three, Blair Kinghorn starts at fullback alongside Scotland international winger Dougie Fife and the once again fit, Van der Merwe.

Matt Scott – who makes his first Edinburgh appearance at BT Murrayfield since May 2016 – is joined in the midfield by Johnstone, whilst Henry Pyrgos and Simon Hickey both make their home debuts after being named at half-back.

An unchanged front-row sees captain Stuart McInally pack down alongside WP Nel and Pierre Schoeman, with Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist continuing their partnership in the boiler room.

The aforementioned Watson returns to action at openside flanker, as Hamilton and Jamie Ritchie complete the back-row.

Elsewhere, 23-year-old back-row Magnus Bradbury is once again fit and named amongst the replacements, whilst summer recruit Juan Pablo Socino is also included on the bench, and if called upon will make his competitive debut for the club.

Secure your tickets for tomorrow's clash at BT Murrayfield here. Don't forget that U16's go free with an Adult Silver Ticket purchaser!



Edinburgh team to face Connacht at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday 14 September (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports.



15. Blair Kinghorn (66)



14. Dougie Fife (109)

13. James Johnstone (20)

12. Matt Scott (76)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (19)



10. Simon Hickey (2)

9. Henry Pyrgos (2)



1. Pierre Schoeman (2)

2. Stuart McInally (122) CAPTAIN

3. WP Nel (117)

4. Ben Toolis (90)

5. Grant Gilchrist (122)

6. Jamie Ritchie (50)

7. Hamish Watson (83)

8. Luke Hamilton (2)



Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (181); 17. Allan Dell (46); 18. Simon Berghan (50); 19. Fraser McKenzie (102). 20. Magnus Bradbury (53); 21 Sean Kennedy (62); 22. Jaco van der Walt (18); 23. Juan Pablo Socino*

Connacht

(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Kyle Godwin, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1-8) Conan O’Donnell, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Ultan Dillane, Sean O’Brien, Jarrad Butler, Paul Boyle.

Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, James Cannon, Colby Fainga’a, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Bundee Aki.

All things considered that’s as good a side as we can put out at the moment. I guess we’ll see Carmichael and Hunter-Hill during the international windows

Apparently we are going to be led with "chants" on the screen. Not sure that is a great idea.

To be fair though it was one of the questions they were asked and they have now responded.

Suppose anything is worth a try to improve the atmosphere. You would think it will be better though with more STs sold than last year (Im assuming that is the case)

dolf_lundgren wrote:Apparently we are going to be led with "chants" on the screen. Not sure that is a great idea.

To be fair though it was one of the questions they were asked and they have now responded.

Suppose anything is worth a try to improve the atmosphere. You would think it will be better though with more STs sold than last year (Im assuming that is the case)

Oh god no!

Something that has struck me often at all Scottish grounds is that the person on the PA seems to have no empathy for the crowd. I have seen numerous examples of the crowd starting to get something going, only to be drowned out by the twat on the PA playing some jingle or other.

And it is more an issue at Scotland games, but if you are going to play music, play the version everyone knows. If it is 500 miles, play the Proclaimer's version.

dolf_lundgren wrote:Apparently we are going to be led with "chants" on the screen. Not sure that is a great idea.

To be fair though it was one of the questions they were asked and they have now responded.

Suppose anything is worth a try to improve the atmosphere. You would think it will be better though with more STs sold than last year (Im assuming that is the case)

Hmm does not sound great but will reserve judgement for 24hours, and will keep my headphones to hand!

Watching the soccer comp during the summer the Icelandic thunderclap thingy would be good for everytime Duhan scored a try but we are prob 30,000 fans short of it near working... Will just have to stick to the thunder shhhhh for now.

Season ticket holder goodie bags?

What's that all about?

Pretty sure Edinburgh managed to sell more season tickets this season than ever before so that’s a bonus. Hopefully there’ll be a good turnout. Expect nothing but a win for Edinburgh. A bonus point is a....well bonus

A loss will be a big disappointment.

Hickey injured - VDW starts with Farndale onto the bench.

Bit of an arm wrestle but we are winning it. Struggling to break down their defence but it will come.Connaght must be absolutely knackered given the defending they have had to do. We just need to keep going, eliminate the stupid mistakes and keep looking for space. Game will break down in last 20mins, we just need to make sure we dont let their dangerous back 3 into the game late on.

Seem to have the push in the maul going now. A good weapon for Edinburgh to use.