Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club

Well, another D-day for us on Friday as we attempt to scrape into the top 3. A must-win game for us, and it's almost as important for Ulster, so it's going to be full-on battle. Unless we have injuries I'm sure we'll field the same side, Ulster will be a bit stronger than last week. Not expecting to have much fingernail left by the final whistle.

My fingernails will be in the same state, and I’ll be a bit throaty at the wedding the next day, although that may be an excuse to duck out of going to the reception later(l don’t do family weddings, we may be related to some but I don’t have to socialise with them, pity the game wasn’t Saturday pm.
Anyway, I’m sure the squad know what’s needed but I don’t expect pretty rugby, a win by any method will do, and if a bonus point is in there even better.

Saw on FB somebody pointing out that they had opened up access to a section in the upper tier of East Stand. Hopefully a sign of a bigger than average crowd for Friday. It's an easy trip from Belfast and a massive game for them as well so they will probably bring a good few over I would think.

A wee bit of resurgence hopefully will pull folk in hoping to see a win, Ulster need the points too so they should bring a crowd hoping too for precious points. Not long now.

Scotland internationalist Magnus Bradbury has been named at blindside flanker for Edinburgh's crucial Guinness PRO14 showdown with Ulster at BT Murrayfield on Friday night (12 April, kick-off 7.35pm).

The back-row replaces John Barclay – who drops to the bench – in the only alteration to the starting XV that claimed a valuable away win against Scarlets last weekend.

Ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated Conference B encounter, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We’ve got to win. It’s the same as last week. If we don’t, we’re relying on other results and miracles. We’ve just got to keep winning.

“Although Ulster were beaten by Glasgow, they were extremely good against Leinster the week before and they should have won. They’ve had a tough run in. They played in Dublin, Glasgow and now they come to us.

“We’ll put out our best team and we’ll both go as hard as we can to try and win. They’ve got a lot of quality, but we’ve got some pretty good players too.”

An unchanged back-three sees Darcy Graham make his third consecutive start at fullback, with Duhan van der Merwe and Damien Hoyland named on the wings.

Matt Scott – who grabbed his second try of the season in the win over Scarlets – is partnered by Mark Bennett in midfield, while last weekend’s man of the match, Jaco van der Walt, once again links up with scrum-half Henry Pyrgos at half-back.

An unaltered front-row sees captain Stuart McInally pack down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel, with experienced lock pairing Grant Gilchrist and Ben Toolis once again selected in the second-row.

The inclusion of Bradbury is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-row as Hamish Watson and Fijian internationalist Viliame Mata complete the pack.

Elsewhere, club centurion and Scotland’s record cap holder Ross Ford is named among the replacements and if involved will make what could be his last appearance at BT Murrayfield after it was announced this week that the hooker will leave the club at the end of the season.



Edinburgh team to face Ulster at BT Murrayfield in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday 12 April (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports



15. Darcy Graham (22)



14. Damien Hoyland (62)

13. Mark Bennett (18)

12. Matt Scott (82)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (39)



10. Jaco van der Walt (38)

9. Henry Pyrgos (22)



1. Pierre Schoeman (21)

2. Stuart McInally (135) CAPTAIN

3. WP Nel (132)

4. Ben Toolis (108)

5. Grant Gilchrist (135)

6. Magnus Bradbury (63)

7. Hamish Watson (98)

8. Viliame Mata (58)



Replacements; 16. Ross Ford (197); 17. Allan Dell (59); 18. Simon Berghan (65); 19. Callum Hunter-Hill (16); 20. John Barclay (3); 21. Charlie Shiel (4); 22. Simon Hickey (17); 23. George Taylor (3)

A Kinghorn away from being our first choice XV maybe?

Got to feel for Jamie Ritchie who was arguably one of Scotlands best players in the 6N but cant get in the match day squad at Edinburgh now.

Ulster team to play Edinburgh, Guinness PRO14 Round 20, Friday 12th April 2019 at BT Murrayfield (7.35pm):

(15-9): J Stockdale; R Baloucoune, L Marshall, S McCloskey, R Lyttle; B Burns, J Cooney;

(1-8): E O’Sullivan, R Herring, M Moore, I Henderson (Capt), K Treadwell, N Timoney, J Murphy, M Coetzee;

Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, R Kane, A O’Connor, S Reidy, D Shanahan, P Nelson, A Kernohan.

The Feral Goat wrote:A Kinghorn away from being our first choice XV maybe?

Got to feel for Jamie Ritchie who was arguably one of Scotlands best players in the 6N but cant get in the match day squad at Edinburgh now.

Aye, we've just got to hope this really inspires Ritchie to even greater heights. In some ways this is exactly what we want in every position, guys ready to take over and no drop in quality.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
AR1: Lloyd Linton (SRU), AR2: Wayne Davies (WRU)
TMO: Charles Samson (SRU)

Live on Premier Sports 1 & eir Sport 2 19:35

The Feral Goat wrote:A Kinghorn away from being our first choice XV maybe?

Got to feel for Jamie Ritchie who was arguably one of Scotlands best players in the 6N but cant get in the match day squad at Edinburgh now.

He’s injured according to Cockerill interview.

We need to stand up now no excuses, last game of the season and shut their fans up by playing the power game and creating gaps and nail our chances as and when the arrive.This is a really SteveWalsh or bust game for us now, and really we should be targeting a bonus point win! If there is a team in the league we are due payback,its them,come on Edinburgh put them to the sword and make us proud prior to the big one with Glasgow.

Bluehouse wrote:He’s injured according to Cockerill interview.

Yes, I'm sure we would have seen Barclay, Ritchie and Bradbury in the squad with Magnus and Bill covering 2nd row if he was fit (as per the Munster QF)

Cockers needs to have the squad locked in a room about now ranting at them and showing repeats of of our famous failures explaining we here believe in them and how not to let us down, 12 hours from now I want to see us 15 points up and counting down the minutes.

Who do we want to shout “ fatty” at tonight? Feeling childish.

Going to be a hell of a game tonight. Both teams have shown they can perform in big games but also both are fragile if they go behind.

We need to get off to a good start and get points on the board early.

Really could do with Duhan coming back to form too, Darcy has been trying almost singlehandedly in recent weeks to be a game breaker.

Is Socino injured or Taylor just preferred?