Edinburgh team to face Munster

Nov 30 • General News, Guinness Pro14 • 1068 Views • Comments Off on Edinburgh team to face Munster

Edinburgh Head Coach Richard Cockerill has named a reshuffled starting XV for tomorrow night’s Guinness PRO14 match against Munster at Irish Independent Park (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports 2.

With several first team regulars injured or being rested following the Autumn Internationals, the team selection sees nine changes from the side that faced Dragons at Rodney Parade last Sunday evening.

Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy graduate George Taylor is named at outside centre to make his competitive debut for the club, whilst a new-look half-back pairing sees Nathan Fowles and Jaco van der Walt selected in the starting line-up.

Elsewhere, internationalists Tom Brown and Juan Pablo Socino return to action at wing and inside-centre respectively to complete a revamped backline.

In the forward pack, Cockerill fields a fresh front-row trio of Rory Sutherland, David Cherry and Murray McCallum, whilst Lewis Wynne – who featured from the bench against both Scarlets and Dragons – makes his first start for the club in the back-row.

Ahead of the fixture, Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said: “We’ve got a young group again, but part of our development as a squad is that we have got to put people in a position to grow.

“It’s been a tight turnaround with regards to training, but we have prepared as well as we can and we will travel with the mindset to win.”

In the back-three, Dougie Fife and Duhan van der Merwe continue at fullback and wing respectively, with Scotland internationalist Brown selected on the opposite flank.

Taylor – who signed his first professional deal in May – is named alongside Socino in midfield, whilst Fowles and Van der Valt start at half-back.

McCallum and Sutherland – both replacements in last weekend’s defeat to Dragons – pack down alongside Cherry in the front-row, with promising locks Jamie Hodgson and Callum Hunter-Hill once again named in the second-row.

The inclusion of Wynne is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-row with Luke Hamilton – who captains the side – and Ally Miller completing the starting line-up.

Elsewhere summer signing, Senitiki Nayalo – who if involved would make his first competitive appearance for the club – and Scotland internationalist Darryl Marfo are named amongst the replacements.

Edinburgh team to face Munster at Irish Independent Park in the Guinness PRO14 on Friday 30 November, kick-off 7.35pm – live on Premier Sports 2

15. Dougie Fife (117)

14. Tom Brown (115)

13. George Taylor*

12. Juan Pablo Socino (7)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (26)

10. Jaco van der Walt (23)

9. Nathan Fowles (61)

1. Rory Sutherland (69)

2. David Cherry (5)

3. Murray McCallum (45)

4. James Hodgson (3)

5. Callum Hunter-Hill (5)

6. Ally Miller (2)

7. Lewis Wynne (2)

8. Luke Hamilton (9) CAPTAIN

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford (188); 17. Darryl Marfo (10); 18. Pietro Ceccarelli (3); 19. Callum Atkinson (2); 20. Senitiki Nayalo*; 21. Sean Kennedy (65); 22. Jason Baggott* 23. Chris Dean (74)

Unavailable due to injury: Cameron Fenton; Fraser McKenzie; Lewis Carmichael; John Barclay; Magnus Bradbury; Luke Crosbie; Matt Scott; Mark Bennett; Damien Hoyland