Edinburgh vs Munster - 16/03

Edinburgh welcome back two NatWest 6 Nations stars for tomorrow night’s pivotal Guinness PRO14 encounter with Munster at BT Murrayfield (Friday 16 March, kick-off 7.35pm).

TV - BBC Scotland & TG4

Scotland internationalists Ben Toolis - who starts in the second-row - and Simon Berghan – who is named amongst the replacements – both return to club action as Edinburgh look to continue their run of good form which has seen the club win five of its last six league fixtures to climb into the Guinness PRO14 play-off positions.

Dougie Fife is named at fullback after making his 100th appearance for the club in last month’s victory over Dragons. The Scotland Sevens star is joined in the back-three by wings Duhan van der Merwe and Jason Harries.

In the midfield, Chris Dean is partnered by Mark Bennett, who returns to the fray after missing the bonus-point victory against Dragons three-weeks ago. An unchanged half-back partnership sees Jaco van der Walt once again link-up with Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.

In the front-row, experienced hooker Neil Cochrane is joined by Murray McCallum and Samoan international Jordan Lay.

Club Captain Fraser McKenzie keeps his place in the second-row, whilst Toolis returns to the starting XV after missing the last four fixtures due to international duties.

A powerful back-row trio sees Magnus Bradbury and John Hardie link-up with Bill Mata, who is once again named at number eight following his Man of the Match performance in the impressive win over the Dragons at Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park.

Head Coach Richard Cockerill, said:

“Munster are a very good side. They should come here and they should win – but we’ll see.

“We’ll be well prepped and motivated for the game – as I’m sure they’ll be – and it’s another good test for us.

“Munster have probably got a good enough squad to beat us, but were playing well, we’re confident and we’ll go out there and try and improve on last week – that’s where we are at the moment.


“We’ve got a hell of a run-in now until the end of the season to try and do something with the year.

“We’ve got some big games to try and win. We want to be in the play-offs and we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity to be in the mix.”

Edinburgh team to face Munster in the Guinness PRO14 at BT Murrayfield on Friday 16 March (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on BBC Two Scotland.

15. Dougie Fife (100)

14. Jason Harries (8)
13. Mark Bennett (5)
12. Chris Dean (60)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (11)

10. Jaco van der Walt (11)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (103)

1. Jordan Lay (5)
2. Neil Cochrane (69)
3. Murray McCallum (36)
4. Fraser McKenzie (98) CAPTAIN
5. Ben Toolis (82)
6. Magnus Bradbury (46)
7. John Hardie (27)
8. Bill Mata (31)

Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton (9); 17. Rory Sutherland (60); 18. Simon Berghan (42); 19. Lewis Carmichael (26); 20. Cornell du Preez (98); 21. Nathan Fowles (53); 22. Duncan Weir (28); 23. Junior Rasolea (25)

Cockers carrying on his less than inspiring team talks by talking his team down - “Munster are a very good side. They should come here and they should win – but we’ll see.".

It has worked to good effect so far so maybe he's onto something!

Glad this is on TV - hope its a decent crowd. Big game for Edinburgh.

I'd imagine what he’s saying in public is probably different to what he says to the players…at least I hope so anyway.

Regarding the crowd I think it might be smaller than normal to be honest, with fans travelling over to Rome. This game wasn't due to take place this weekend, so a lot of fans (myself included) have planned to be in Rome, certainly a number of Edinburgh fans I speak to at games won't be in Edinburgh this weekend.

Hopefully others will come out and support the team, but with it being on TV, the weather looking pretty shocking, along with it being an international weekend, and a rearranged game. Can't see a big crowd for this sadly.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, James Hart; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Jack O'Donoghue, Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Darren O'Shea, Tommy O'Donnell, Jack Stafford, Bill Johnston, Dan Goggin.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Cockers carrying on his less than inspiring team talks by talking his team down - “Munster are a very good side. They should come here and they should win – but we’ll see.".

It has worked to good effect so far so maybe he's onto something!

Glad this is on TV - hope its a decent crowd. Big game for Edinburgh.

Big game for Ulster !

Come on the Munstermen

I'd like to second that, come on Munster, do your nordie brothers a little favour.

We'll do our best for you

EWT Spoons wrote:I'd imagine what he’s saying in public is probably different to what he says to the players…at least I hope so anyway.

Regarding the crowd I think it might be smaller than normal to be honest, with fans travelling over to Rome.  This game wasn't due to take place this weekend, so a lot of fans (myself included) have planned to be in Rome, certainly a number of Edinburgh fans I speak to at games won't be in Edinburgh this weekend.

Hopefully others will come out and support the team, but with it being on TV, the weather looking pretty shocking, along with it being an international weekend, and a rearranged game.  Can't see a big crowd for this sadly.

You were right about the attendance!

Good start Edinburgh!

That was a harsh call!

What a brain fart from the Munster player - you can't charge down a 22 dropout!

This isn't the best of games. Edinburgh playing ball the rugby but nothing to show for it so far.

Absolute nonsense of a penalty on Toolis.

The reffing team appear to just want to get themselves on tele.

Utterly baffling calls being made. Ruining the game

Why are we box kicking on the halfway line??

This game is grim. Both teams kicking all the time.

Edinburgh not playing heads up rugby - have s 5 on 2 but box kick it because that's the tactics

Thats better!

Take a bow dougie

That was a perfectly legit try for Mata as he was the last player of the ruck.

Wow great try.

Some pace that winger!

VinceWLB wrote:Wow great try.

Some pace that winger!

He's been brilliant for us this season. Just needs to work on his high ball takes!

Big concern with SHC off and this being a tight game - VDW really isn't a good kicker

RDW_Scotland wrote:Big concern with SHC off and this being a tight game - VDW really isn't a good kicker

Hero Duncan Weir is on the bench!

Hopefully we wont need some last minute magic here though.

If SHC has been on I'm sure we would have kicked to goal, which would have been the sensible decision.

Fowles is utter pish. Get ball away from the ruck man!

This is so scrappy from Edinburgh - we're falling short in a lot of the finer details of the game. All that came from a badly executed maul.

Aw pish

Rather silly from Harries. Could be the game!

Just get the bloody ball out Fowles!!

Next week will be high ball fielding for the Edinburgh backs

Munster should pepper high balls for the rest of the night

RDW_Scotland wrote:Just get the bloody ball out Fowles!!

Every week he comes on and just stares at the ball at the base of rucks. Why anyone gave this grumpy Ned a pro rugby contract is beyond me

tigertattie wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Just get the bloody ball out Fowles!!

Every week he comes on and just stares at the ball at the base of rucks. Why anyone gave this grumpy Ned a pro rugby contract is beyond me

The main reason I'm worried we're letting SHC go!

Really need to get ahead by more than a score

Not sure why we took a scrum there. Just hoof it!

Munster have played absolutely no rugby and haven't looked like scoring at all. It'll be a disaster if we lose this!

Endings to Edinburgh games really aren't relaxing!

Dreadful stuff by Munster. Who the hell is leading that team? RDW is right, they're playing nothing that could be called rugby.

Even with the extra man, no idea how to play a game that might actually make some ground and get points. 1970s stuff in the 21st century

Well it wasn't pretty but that's a huge win!

Leinster, Ulster now Munster.

What a result! Ugly old game, but thats a huge win for us

SecretFly wrote:Dreadful stuff by Munster.  Who the hell is leading that team? RDW is right, they're playing nothing that could be called rugby.

Even with the extra man, no idea how to play a game that might actually make some ground and get points.  1970s stuff in the 21st century

A genuinely can't remember a Munster try scoring opportunity!

Good on you Luvvies.

Not a lot of rugby but a good win. Now, if we can return the favour by beating Ulster.

Phew

RDW_Scotland wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Dreadful stuff by Munster.  Who the hell is leading that team? RDW is right, they're playing nothing that could be called rugby.

Even with the extra man, no idea how to play a game that might actually make some ground and get points.  1970s stuff in the 21st century

A genuinely can't remember a Munster try scoring opportunity!

All I saw was a bunch of headbutters. Collision, collision, collision...no boss on the field at all to tell them they're in a game that requires some thinking and smarter rugby. Just headless chickens colliding and colliding all night.

Thought Bradbury had his best game for a while - his carrying still isn't as affective as it used to be though.

Fowles was pish.

Good win for Edinburgh!

SecretFly wrote:Dreadful stuff by Munster.  Who the hell is leading that team? RDW is right, they're playing nothing that could be called rugby.

Even with the extra man, no idea how to play a game that might actually make some ground and get points.  1970s stuff in the 21st century

The second last play summed it up for Munster with that unproductive maul, Edinburgh played all the rugby in this they had a perfectly legit try disallowed too, they thoroughly deserved the win.

Munster can consider themselves lucky to get the LBP, on the plus side for them thats the best i have seen Copeland play for a long time.

No crowd, no atmosphere ,no game. Well played Luvvies. Shame Wee Dunky couldn't have deprived them of a LBP tbh

I'm really unsure how Fowles has a pro contract.

Just awful.

VinceWLB wrote:Good win for Edinburgh!

SecretFly wrote:Dreadful stuff by Munster.  Who the hell is leading that team? RDW is right, they're playing nothing that could be called rugby.

Even with the extra man, no idea how to play a game that might actually make some ground and get points.  1970s stuff in the 21st century

The second last play summed it up for Munster with that unproductive maul, Edinburgh played all the rugby in this they had a perfectly legit try disallowed too, they thoroughly deserved the win.

Munster can consider themselves lucky to get the LBP, on the plus side for them thats the best i have seen Copeland play for a long time.

What about that fair haired TJ that penalised Toolis in the first 40 - for nothing other than perhaps grazing the Munster player's  outer hair follicle with his left pinky -  then said the Luvvie wing was in touch in the 2nd 40 from a Moonster penalty. .  He obviously got the D4 message tbf

EST wrote:I'm really unsure how Fowles has a pro contract.  

Just awful.

High hopes for Charlie Shiel next season. It's not like he's got much competition!