Edinburgh V London Irish

15 Chris Paterson

14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Mike Blair

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Sean Cox
6 David Denton
7 Roddy Grant
8 Netani Talei

Substitutes
16 Alun Walker
17 Kyle Traynor
18 Jack Gilding
19 Esteban Lozada
20 Stuart McInally
21 Phil Godman
22 John Houston
23 Tom Brown

London Irish

15. Delon Armitage*; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Jonathan Spratt*; 12. Shontayne Hape*; 11. Adam Thompstone; 10. Adrian Jarvis; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Alex Corbisiero*; 2. James Buckland; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. James Sandford; 5. Bob Casey* (Captain); 6. Matt Garvey; 7. David Sisi; 8. Alex Gray

Replacements: 16. Brian Blaney; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Faan Rautenbach*; 19. Nick Kennedy*; 20. Bryn Evans*; 21. Jonathan Joseph; 22. Steven Shingler; 23. Ross Samson

Major change is no Ross Rennie - he isn't even injured and he's dropped completely! Crazy decision for me as he's been on fire for us recently - his turnover last week directly led to a try.

Looking forward to it!!

Rennie has been playing well but so has Roddy Grant. Can't really argue for a case against either starting.

I won't be at the game since I'll be getting ready for a Sea Trial. I'll be watching from an airport lounge though!

I just don't understand this squad rotation policy after one game - Rennie brought back in to the team for RM, has a blinder and then is dropped entirely this week!

Grant is a great warrior and has a fantastic engine but so is Rennie - and IMO Rennie has the X-factor that Grant is missing.

Unless this is a call from Robinson I'd be raging if I was Rennie. Every game he comes in and plays well he gets dropped straight away.

That's the team I would have gone for. Bit of a blow for Rennie, especially if Barclay plays well at the Rec.

As pointed out by RDW, it's a straight dropping, which looks an odd call to me. I'm told he's been playing out of his skin, which you would think would be enough to get him in ahead of Roddy Grant, despite the fact that he is playing well. This is pretty much the make or break game of Edinburgh's season, so it certainly can't be a case of rotation.

The side is a good one though - first choice backline certainly. I also like Lozada and McInally being on the bench - decent impact there.

Dropping a player while playing well? Reminds me of a certain former coach's policy

I hope for Rennie's sake it is a call from Robinson.

I'm really looking forward to this game. Really miffed I can't be there. Good luck to the boys.

Agree re Rennie, I'm sure he's more than miffed. Do tactics really dictate him not getting a place on the bench? Cox covers 6 and Denton 8, so why Lozada and Rambo, rather than Lozada and Rennie? That wouldnt diminish impact IMO.

On a different note. I know 7 has traditionally been a position of strength for the Scots but I'm fast coming around to the idea of one of our 7 pairs (Grant or Rennie and Barclay or Fusaro) leaving to increase competition for places.

My view is that any of our boys would be a real steal for any the top English teams. They are too talented to play swappsies every week.

Barcs might well be leaving Glasgow but Alan MacDonald would be a great back up for either Grant or Rosco, wouldnt he?

RDW - I really don't buy this stuff about Robinson telling Bradley and Lineen who to pick. People keep suggesting it, particularly fans who don't like Robinson, but I'd be staggered if Robinson had any sway over the selection policy at the clubs.

nickj - completely agree. The only downer is that the top premiership sides might shy away from players who will be missing in the international windows. I thought Leicester might be interested in Barclay when Moody left, but they signed Salvi, a player who will be with them all season. Still, Barclay or Rennie would improve most Premiership sides so I'm surprised there hasn't been more demand.

You are right FES. I can see that being the reason. Crikey what a Catch 22 for a young player. Not going to get into the age old third team debate but at least any third team would have a cracking 7 to kick things off.

I don't think he'd do it either, it just beggers belief that Bradley would rotate one of the most in form forwards in the team just now, and disrupt that backrow that did so well last week, for the biggest game Edinburgh have had since 2004!

Grant has been playing well this season but he was anonymous against Ulster 2 weeks ago and didn't show up at all when he replaced Rennie last week at 50 mins.

nickj - what you might find is that a Premiership side could look to sign a reserve player like Roddy Grant or Alan McDonald, in the same way that Gloucester snapped up Ali Strokosch. He wasn't really in the international picture until he went down to Gloucester, which goes to show the quality lurking around in these Scottish squads.

RDW - agreed, and I'm pretty sure Robinson is hacked off as well. I'm sure he'd have wanted to see Rennie play this one against Jamie Gibson. Exactly the sort of game that would have got Rennie match sharp for the Calcutta Cup. Now he won't have played for 3 weeks - hardly ideal.

Gibson isnt playing for irish, young David Sisi at openside.

15. Delon Armitage*; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Jonathan Spratt*; 12. Shontayne Hape*; 11. Adam Thompstone; 10. Adrian Jarvis; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Alex Corbisiero*; 2. James Buckland; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. James Sandford; 5. Bob Casey* (Captain); 6. Matt Garvey; 7. David Sisi; 8. Alex Gray

Replacements: 16. Brian Blaney; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Faan Rautenbach*; 19. Nick Kennedy*; 20. Bryn Evans*; 21. Jonathan Joseph; 22. Steven Shingler; 23. Ross Samson

Strong looking London Irish team. Will be gutted if we lose!

Agreed - Irish are not messing about, particularly in the backs. Edinburgh will need to play their usual expansive style but a word of caution, that Irish back three won't need much invitation to run the ball back. Topsy Ojo in particular is a vastly underrated winger in English rugby.

isnt Rennie still being managed for his knee?

The only thing I dont understand is Paterson at full back. Browns been impressive in his cameos this season, but he hardly ever gets the nod ahead of Paterson, whos had a couple of stinkers this season.

Imperialbigdave wrote:isnt Rennie still being managed for his knee?

The only thing I dont understand is Paterson at full back. Browns been impressive in his cameos this season, but he hardly ever gets the nod ahead of Paterson, whos had a couple of stinkers this season.

Experience for a very inexperienced team? He;s like Shane Williams though - my hearts in my mouth whenever he gets tackled cause I know more often than not it leads to a turnover if he is isolated.

Not scared of those Irish backs

Fantastic results for us tonight - I think I'm right in saying that, unless Ospreys or Northampton get a surprise bonus point win, we only need a losing bonus point to be at least one of the best 2nd place teams??

somethng like that. a win should put us thru - and we can beat irish at home

Think a win now guarantees we go through - bonus point or not and irrespective of if Cardiff win.

However if we can top our group we might get a home quarter final!!

Ways Edinburgh won't qualify:

1. Don't get a single league point out of the match AND two of the following happen:

a) Northampton Saints get a TBP win v Munster at the gardens
b) Clermont Auvergne get at least a LBP at home against Ulster
c) Ospreys beat Biarritz whilst getting 1 more try than Edinburgh did on match day
d) Biarritz beat Ospreys whilst whilst getting the same amount of tries that Edinburgh did on match day
e) Ospreys or Biarritz get the full 5 points

[1c,1d & 1e are of course mutually exclusive]

2. Edinburgh get a losing bonus point, Cardiff Blues get at least a losing bonus point AND two of the following happen:

a) Clermont Auvergne get 2 league points out of their match with Ulster (draw, both bonus points or a win)
b) Ospreys beat Biarritz with a TBP whilst getting 1 more try than Edinburgh did on match day. [NB this is ALSO contingent on Saracens need getting least a LBP in Italy, or not got a single league point but somehow still score 2 more tries than Edinburgh on match day]
c) Biarritz beat Ospreys with a TBP whilst whilst getting the same amount of tries that Edinburgh did on match day [NB this is ALSO contingent on the above RE Saracens]

If Edinburgh get 2 league points out of the match they are out of sight.


I guess it would be fair to say that a LBP will do. But let's go out and win.

My logical head is beating me up now for 2b and 2c ... if Edinburgh get a losing bonus point and no try bonus point, then Ospreys & Biarritz obviously will have scored at least 1 more try than Edinburgh in the case of their 5 point victories

Nick De luca out injured with John Houston replacing him. Blow for Edinburgh as, although Houston is a solid player, he doesn't have the start quality that De Luca has had this season.

In other news - the Scotsman claims Rennie isn't in teh squad because he has a hand injury!

Sky Sports keep displaying the top 8 in the Heino and dismissing Edinburgh as automatically the pool's runner up: "Cardiff can book their home QF tomorrow, Edinburgh of course in the best runners up spot" FFS Cardiff are playing RM, Edinburgh are playing LI ... why assume Edinburgh can't do a better job?

Cardiff have the easier game thats why kickandchase, however considering some of the shocks we have seen so far with Gloucester beating toulouse and connaught beating Quins and Ulster right in it against Clermont then anyhing could happen!

KickAndChase wrote:Sky Sports keep displaying the top 8 in the Heino and dismissing Edinburgh as automatically the pool's runner up: "Cardiff can book their home QF tomorrow, Edinburgh of course in the best runners up spot" FFS Cardiff are playing RM, Edinburgh are playing LI ... why assume Edinburgh can't do a better job?

It's not about assuming Edinburgh aren't good enough, it's that Racing Metro are bottom of the group, Cardiff are just as (if not more) likely to beat them as Edinburgh are to beat Irish, and that being the case Cardiff would go through based on their head to head with Edinburgh.

Off to murrayfield - 'mon the gunners!!!!

Whata happened to the team?? No denton, now rennie on the bench? Mossy out?

Is there usually a latin drum beat at Murrayfield for Edinburgh?

Seeing as Robinson is actually watching this game, if he doesn't put Laidlaw at 10 he's insane.

Do Edinburgh EVER kick the ball unless its a grubber?

In fairness, Edinburgh are getting across the gain line quite well keeping ball in hand. So the need to kick is reduced a wee bit

Manky-Flanker wrote:In fairness, Edinburgh are getting across the gain line quite well keeping ball in hand. So the need to kick is reduced a wee bit

Oh yeah fair play, it's good stuff to watch.

Definitely good to watch, hope the 2nd half serves up more of the same!

About 45 phases so far in Edinburgh's 22 and LI haven't scored ? They really are not a good team are they ...

KickAndChase wrote:About 45 phases so far in Edinburgh's 22 and LI haven't scored ? They really are not a good team are they ...

Ozzy would be able to tell you more, but to be fair to them they're carrying a large number of injuries at the moment, I think only half the side is first choice, their entire backrow and halfbacks certainly aren't.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS bonus point try

Edinburgh home QF

Great result, well done Edinburgh!!!

Gutting for the Blues

Came so close to the TBP at the end.

We had the chance, didnt take it at the death.

Away to Leinster now thanks to Edinburgh

Well played Edinburgh, group winners and home QF well-deserved. Speaking curled in relief that Blues are through, even if they are in Clermont and probably shooting out. But what a great group, what a climax!!

Can't wait to go to Murrayfield and see Edinburgh in the quarter finals!!!'

Knowsit17 wrote:Well played Edinburgh, group winners and home QF well-deserved. Speaking curled in relief that Blues are through, even if they are in Clermont and probably shooting out. But what a great group, what a climax!!

In Dublin!

Hopefully Edinburgh will see a record crowd descend on Murrayfield for the QF

Wooohoooo!!! I'm booking my flight!

Dunedin gu bràth!!

Knowsit17 wrote:Well played Edinburgh, group winners and home QF well-deserved. Speaking curled in relief that Blues are through, even if they are in Clermont and probably shooting out. But what a great group, what a climax!!

Sorry, in Leinster and probably definitely shooting out. Still great group deservedly won by Burgh

well done Edinburgh - pulled out the required result despite a handful of last minute withdrawals - they've shown real character as a squad

Toulouse at home in a Heineken cup QF. It'll be pretty special! Well played Edinburgh!

I hope the marketing boys and girls see the opportunity this presents for re-igniting interest in the game in Scotland. It's tough promoting teams that win nothing - so hopefully they will sqeeze all the advantage they can from Edinburgh successfully topping their group and winning a home QF.

Great job Edinburgh - also happy to see Bradley doing so well there, he was a great Connacht coach working with incredibly limited resources and personnel.

Well played Edinburgh you knew what you had to do and done, Blues had 3rd try after 53 minutes but coulnd't kill off racing enough to risk going for the 4th until news flitered through from Edinburgh, then they had to try for it.