Match Preview: Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh

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[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... y_logo.jpg[/tag][tag=content]It’s been three long weeks since we last saw Ulster on our TV screens, and I for one have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Thank goodness we’re back in action tomorrow night then – I’m not sure how many more weeks I could have survived without it!

Edinburgh will be the opponents this week as we look to get back to winning ways after such a disappointing defeat in Llanelli in our last match, when we left the Parc y Scarlets with nothing to show for our (minimal) efforts. We’re already seven points adrift of Munster at the top of the league, and with some tricky away games still to navigate, we can’t afford too many more losses if we wish to finish as top seeds.

Therefore, this game has a lot more riding on it than it first appears to. However, we've been dealt a kind hand as Joe Schmidt has released five players from the Ireland squad to play this week, including Luke Marshall, who many tipped to start against the All Blacks, and disappointingly Dan Tuohy has been released too without playing at all. Ah well, Ireland's loss is Ulster's gain I suppose!

Onto our opponents, and let’s not wax lyrical here, Edinburgh aren’t the greatest side in the world, and we should beat them. But it will be a warm welcome back to Ravenhill for coach Alan Solomons who now plies his trade at Murrayfield – I’m sure the old ground has changed significantly since he left! While his start to life at Edinburgh hasn’t been overly successful, you get the sense that Edinburgh’s season is beginning to gather momentum. They will be looking for their third straight win – one that would lift them into the top six for the first time this season.

Ulster make five changes to the side that lost to the Scarlets, including the returns of Craig Gilroy and Iain Henderson after injury. Gilroy replaces Jared Payne at full-back after the latter failed to recover from a thigh injury picked up in Llanelli, while Henderson comes in for Neil McComb at lock. Surprisingly, Luke Marshall is released from Ireland duty to start at 12, while in the back row Sean Doyle starts his first game of the season with Roger Wilson dropping to the bench. Tom Court and Dan Tuohy are both released from Ireland duty to take their place on the bench and Robbie Diack captains the side for the first time.

Edinburgh make two changes to their team that defeated Zebre 25-23. With Sean Kennedy out injured, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne starts at scrum-half, while lock Ollie Atkins makes his first start of the season in place of international call-up Grant Gilchrist. There could be debuts for Ben Toolis and Grayson Hart if they come on from the bench for the visiting side.

On paper, this looks like a home win. On grass, it is an entirely different matter. Alan Solomons will want a win over his former side to kick-start his side’s season into action, and make no doubt about it, the Scotsmen are not coming over simply to make up the numbers. They will be up for this game, and it’s up to us to match them. However, Ulster definitely have the players to beat them, and if we have any hopes of winning this league, then these games must be wins.

No pressure then…

Ulster Rugby vs. Edinburgh Rugby
Friday 22nd November, 19:05
Ravenhill
RaboDirect Pro12, Round 8

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Craig Gilroy, 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Luke Marshall, 11. Michael Allen, 10. James McKinney, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. John Afoa, 4. Lewis Stevenson, 5. Iain Henderson, 6. Robbie Diack (c), 7. Sean Doyle, 8. Nick Williams.

16. Niall Annett, 17. Tom Court, 18. Ricky Lutton, 19. Dan Tuohy, 20. Roger Wilson, 21. Ian Porter, 22. Peter Nelson, 23. Ricky Andrew.

EDINBURGH RUGBY
15. Greig Tonks, 14. Dougie Fife, 13. Joaquin Dominguez, 12. Ben Atiga, 11. Jack Cuthbert, 10. Harry Leonard, 9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1. Wiccus Blaauw, 2. Aleki Lutui, 3. Willem Nel, 4. Ollie Atkins, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 6. Tomas Leonardi, 7. Roddy Grant (c), 8. Cornell du Preez.

16. James Hilterbrand, 17. Robin Hislop, 18. Geoff Cross, 19. Ben Toolis, 20. Ross Rennie, 21. Grayson Hart, 22. Sam Beard, 23. Tom Brown.

Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Kevin Beggs (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John West (IRFU)
TMO: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)[/tag]