News
Preview: Leinster v Edinburgh
October 10 2008
Brian O'Driscoll will partner Luke Fitzgerald at centre for Leinster against Edinburgh in Saturday's opening Heineken Cup Pool 2 clash at Murrayfield.
Felipe Contepomi will revert to ofly-half while the other changes in the backline see Chris Whitaker and Girvan Dempsey starting at scrum-half and full-back respectively, as Michael Cheika opts for experience.
In the pack, Bernard Jackman returns to partner Stan Wright and CJ van der Linde in the front row. Devin Toner lines up alongside skipper Leo Cullen after impressing last weekend in the second row with Malcolm O'Kelly ruled out after picking up a knock.
Jamie Heaslip and Shane Jennings also return to the back-row to partner Rocky Elsom.
Meanwhile, Simon Webster admits he is relieved to be resuming competitive action for Edinburgh for Saturday's opening Heineken Cup match against Leinster at Murrayfield and says he is aiming to help to make it four in a row against the Irish Province.
The Scotland wing has missed the opening month of the campaign after aggravating a hip injury the day preceding the season opener against Munster.
But the 27-year-old has now made a full recovery and says he cannot wait to get back out on the pitch against Leinster, the reigning Magners League champions.
"It is just such a relief to be given the all-clear to play rugby again. This first month of the season has been really frustrating because I felt I had regained my sharpness after our pre-season win at Bath," he said.
"So to experience another delayed start to the season has been a blow, but now I'm looking to make up for lost time; starting with the match against Leinster."
Form: Leinster were going well in the Magners League but suffered a loss to bottom side Connacht last week. Edinburgh's domestic form has been slow to pick up - including a crushing defeat at Leinster already - but the Scots often raise themselves for European days.
Prediction: Leinster are too strong, but it will be a god arm-wrestle. Leinster by 6
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Hugo Southwell, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Simon Webster, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (c), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Scott Newlands, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Ben Gissing, 19 Craig Hamilton, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 John Houston.
Leinster 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements 16 John Fogarty, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Gary Brown.
Date: Saturday October 11
Venue: Murrayfield
Kick-off: 13.35 (12.35 GMT)
Referee: David Pearson (England)
Touch judges: Roy Maybank, Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)