Agen V Edinburgh

Edinburgh make 12 changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow night’s Challenge Cup Pool 3 opener against Agen at Stade Armandie (Friday 15 November, kick-off 7pm GMT/8pm local).

Scotland internationalists Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist and Jamie Ritchie are all named in the capital side’s starting XV for the first time this season, while both scrum-half Charlie Shiel and lock Sam Thomson make their first start for the club

Elsewhere, summer signing Nick Haining returns from injury at No.8, with fullback Damien Hoyland and centres James Johnstone and George Taylor all selected in the back division.


Ahead of the fixture – which sees Edinburgh face Agen for the first time since 2016 - Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We’ve got a strong squad and that is reflected in our team selection.

“We have been able to rotate back in a number of our Scotland internationalists to the forward pack. They bring quality and that added experience, which is always needed when travelling away in Europe.

“A number of guys get their opportunity in the backline, and we’re excited to see how they perform against a quality opposition in Agen.

“We know we’ll be up against a really tough and physically dominant side, who will be keen to get their European campaign off to the best possible start, but we’ve prepared well and come into Friday’s match with plenty of confidence across the board.”

Scotland international Hoyland returns at fullback as wingers Jamie Farndale and Fijian international Eroni Sau combine on the flanks.

Outside centre Johnstone – who makes just his second appearance of the season – is paired with Taylor in midfield, while Shiel and stand-off Simon Hickey form a new-look half-back pairing.

Hooker Cameron Fenton packs down alongside Scotland prop duo Jamie Bhatti and Berghan in the front-row, with club centurion Gilchrist – who skippers the side – and Thomson named at locks.

No.8 Haining anchors a back-row that see John Barclay and Scotland teammate Ritchie named at blindside and openside flanker respectively.

Heriot’s Scrum-half Dan Nutton is selected among the replacements and if involved will make his competitive debut for the club.



Edinburgh Rugby team to face Agen at Stade Armandie in the Challenge Cup
Friday 15 November (kick-off 7pm GMT/ 8pm local)


15. Damien Hoyland (67)



14. Eroni Sau (3)

13. James Johnstone (42)

12. George Taylor (10)

11. Jamie Farndale (5)



10. Simon Hickey (23)

9. Charlie Shiel (11)



1. Jamie Bhatti (5)

2. Cameron Fenton (16)

3. Simon Berghan (68)

4. Sam Thomson (3)

5. Grant Gilchrist (138) CAPTAIN

6. John Barclay (6)

7. Jamie Ritchie (63)

8. Nick Haining (4)



Replacements: 16. Michael Willemse (6) 17. Rory Sutherland (76) 18. Murray McCallum (53) 19. Lewis Carmichael (37) 20. Ally Miller (13) 21. Dan Nutton* 22. Jason Baggott (1) 23. Dougie Fife (124)



Players unavailable: Murray Douglas, Ben Toolis, Jack Stanley, Nic Groom, David Cherry, Darcy Graham, Darryl Marfo, Hamish Watson, WP Nel, Chris Dean, Ruan Steenkamp, Fraser McKenzie

Interesting there's another young SH on the bench. Anyone seen him play?

Would be great if him and Shiel can push Pyrgos down the pecking order!

As Cockers hinted at this is a real mixed bag of a team. Experienced pack and experimental backs, which is pretty much the opposite of what the team has been this season during the world cup.

No idea how we'll get on here but Agen are near the bottom of the French table so may not give a crap. Saying that they could see it as a chance for a morale boosting win then rest players in the next round before the league picks up again.

Being the Challenge Cup, it's not on TV as far as I'm aware.

RDW wrote:As Cockers hinted at this is a real mixed bag of a team. Experienced pack and experimental backs, which is pretty much the opposite of what the team has been this season during the world cup.

No idea how we'll get on here but Agen are near the bottom of the French table so may not give a crap. Saying that they could see it as a chance for a morale boosting win then rest players in the next round before the league picks up again.

Being the Challenge Cup, it's not on TV as far as I'm aware.

Shiel has a good opportunity though, and hickey played pretty well when he played. I guess it could go either way really. Hoyland is decent enough at FB, and Taylor had a pretty good start to the season. If Johnstone can take his 2018-19 form forward it could be a good game for Edinburgh.

It's a chance for the fringe players to show they can be trusted too. You may not get many opportunities against Cockers and if you don't deliver you could have a long season holding tackle bags!

I'd quite like to see Hoyland push on this season and get more opportunities.

He's got a better step than Kinghorn and, despite his stature, is more physical in the tackle than VDM or Kinghorn (a bit like Graham)

Tramptastic wrote:I'd quite like to see Hoyland push on this season and get more opportunities.

He's got a better step than Kinghorn and, despite his stature, is more physical in the tackle than VDM or Kinghorn (a bit like Graham)

Looks like he's our 2nd choice fullback now so he should get plenty gametime, especially with Kinghorn away in the 6N.

His career looked dead and buried with something like 14 months out of the game so it's good to see him back and Cocker putting faith in him early on. Rember he was picked for the Champions Cup QF over Dougie Fife, despite Fife playing in the run of games leading up to it and Hoyland only just returning.

I don't know what to make of this team, it's heavily rotated, but there are a number of good players involved...is this what strength in depth looks like?

I realise there is every chance they won't play well and we'll lose, but the pack is strong and the backs look (on paper) pretty strong as well.

Pack should be too strong for Agen no matter who they put out.

Our backs are a bit average though so it will depend on if Agen want to take this comp seriously or not.

Cockers wont really chuck resources at this comp unless we get to the later stages (or are looking for a win to get through)

AGEN
15. Loris Tolot, 14. Timilai Rokoduru, 13. Jordan Puletua, 12. Alban Conduche, 11. Benito Masilevu, 10. Thomas Vincent, 9. Xavier Chauveau, 1. Morgan Phelipponneau, 2. Loris Zarantonello, 3. Corentin Chabeaudie, 4. Adrian Motoc, 5. Pierce Phillips, 6. Gauthier Maravat, 7. Jessy Jegerlhener, 8. Romain Briatte (c).

Replacements:
16. Fernandez Correa, 17. Malino Vanai, 18. Dave Ryan, 19. Andrés Zafra Tarazona, 20. Laurence Pearce, 21. Hugo Verdu, 22. Raphaël Lagarde, 23. Julien Jane,

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)

AR1: Jonny Erskine (Ireland)

AR2: Richard Kerr (Ireland)

RDW wrote:As Cockers hinted at this is a real mixed bag of a team. Experienced pack and experimental backs, which is pretty much the opposite of what the team has been this season during the world cup.

No idea how we'll get on here but Agen are near the bottom of the French table so may not give a crap. Saying that they could see it as a chance for a morale boosting win then rest players in the next round before the league picks up again.

Being the Challenge Cup, it's not on TV as far as I'm aware.

Three games have some sort of live coverage, but not this one.

Aye, only radio coverage on the beeb I think.

Shame as I'd be curious to actually see how these guys get on

LondonTiger wrote:AGEN
15. Loris Tolot, 14. Timilai Rokoduru, 13. Jordan Puletua, 12. Alban Conduche, 11. Benito Masilevu, 10. Thomas Vincent, 9. Xavier Chauveau, 1. Morgan Phelipponneau, 2. Loris Zarantonello, 3. Corentin Chabeaudie, 4. Adrian Motoc, 5. Pierce Phillips, 6. Gauthier Maravat, 7. Jessy Jegerlhener, 8. Romain Briatte (c).

Replacements:
16. Fernandez Correa, 17. Malino Vanai, 18. Dave Ryan, 19. Andrés Zafra Tarazona, 20. Laurence Pearce, 21. Hugo Verdu, 22. Raphaël Lagarde, 23. Julien Jane,

Anyone know if this is a first team or bunch of kids...?

RDW wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:AGEN
15. Loris Tolot, 14. Timilai Rokoduru, 13. Jordan Puletua, 12. Alban Conduche, 11. Benito Masilevu, 10. Thomas Vincent, 9. Xavier Chauveau, 1. Morgan Phelipponneau, 2. Loris Zarantonello, 3. Corentin Chabeaudie, 4. Adrian Motoc, 5. Pierce Phillips, 6. Gauthier Maravat, 7. Jessy Jegerlhener, 8. Romain Briatte (c).

Replacements:
16. Fernandez Correa, 17. Malino Vanai, 18. Dave Ryan, 19. Andrés Zafra Tarazona, 20. Laurence Pearce, 21. Hugo Verdu, 22. Raphaël Lagarde, 23. Julien Jane,

Anyone know if this is a first team or bunch of kids...?

I recognise hardly any of those names.

https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1195289293876596739

We can watch it!

I wonder if other games are to be streamed online

RDW wrote:https://twitter.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1195289293876596739

We can watch it!

Great news

LondonTiger wrote:I wonder if other games are to be streamed online

Answer is yes:

https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/latest-video/epcrtv/

Brilliant, my better half is on the night shift, time for feet up with some brews and rugby!

Awesome it's being streamed.

Wonder how Shiel will get on?

Hopefully well!

We tend to play a much more attacking style in Europe so that should suit him well. He should play most of the game too - can't imagine the random Heriots bloke will get a lot of gametime unless we're winning or losing by a big number.

RDW wrote:Hopefully well!

We tend to play a much more attacking style in Europe so that should suit him well. He should play most of the game too - can't imagine the random Heriots bloke will get a lot of gametime unless we're winning or losing by a big number.

That's like an Andy Nicol commentary, except any back is just called Hogg or Seymour.

After all this Nutton will become Scotland's Faff de Klerk and his nickname will still be "That Heriots Bloke".

Was too much effort to scroll up and find his name.

Superb try there, some nice attacking rugby on show tonight

Sheil has looked good, as has Taylor and Haining. Hoyland has also had a very good game, I think he could be contending for a Scotland squad spot for the 6Ns if he gets more time this season.

Miller is looking very good too. Some tough selection choices for next week!

Great to get the BP right at the death - job done.

I missed most of the game - who were the standouts?

Very good win that. Taylor was excellent and JJ was getting through a serious amount of work next to him. Can we just ban Pyrgos from playing now? We’re a much more lively team with Groom or Shiel at 9

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Very good win that. Taylor was excellent and JJ was getting through a serious amount of work next to him. Can we just ban Pyrgos from playing now? We’re a much more lively team with Groom or Shiel at 9

I hope so. That performance at SH was miles apart from the woeful performance by Pyrgos at Treviso. Even when that Heriots schoolboy came on.

Agree Taylor looks like a go-er. Very direct and works hard off the ball.

As I said before was impressed with Hoyland, he seems to be finding form.

Miller looked hungry when he came on. The Edinburgh forwards do seem to have a bit of dog about them.

Another thing worth noting was the outstanding defence when Agen had scrums on the 5m line. Two held up tries followed by Agen losing possession.

Lots of positives to be taken from a great away win.

RDW wrote:Great to get the BP right at the death - job done.

I missed most of the game - who were the standouts?

First half - everyone
second half - .....


Taylor looked good, hoyland was ok, Sutherland did well in the scrum but kept getting pinged.

Dutton for his first ever pro game was ok. Nothing special but didn't embarrass himself stepping up.

Good win for Edinburgh, though I did not see the stream.

That should end Agen's interest in the competition, so if they can win their home games from here on in, then they have a pretty good chance of going through.

Can't imagine Wasps are going to be putting to much into this comp either looking at where they are in the league.

Impressive to do it with so many squad players in the team as well. Cockers finally seems to be learning the lesson about rotating!

https://www.edinburghrugby.org/the-clubhouse/highlights-agen

Highlights here - some great scores. Sau is looking a prospect - big strong player.

And that was all without Kinghorn, VDM and Graham not to mention Scott and Bennett!

LondonTiger wrote:Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)

How did she do please?

I've been impressed with her in all the games I've seen her referee. Was hard to tell on this one as there was no commentary and you couldn't hear her.

She's got a good feel for the game and the players certainly behave with a female ref! Would definitely like to see her given more prominent games - she's a lot better than some of the Pro 14 dross we get.

RDW wrote:I've been impressed with her in all the games I've seen her referee. Was hard to tell on this one as there was no commentary and you couldn't hear her.

She's got a good feel for the game and the players certainly behave with a female ref! Would definitely like to see her given more prominent games - she's a lot better than some virtually all of the Pro 14 dross we get.

Nearly correct!