FOUR Scotland internationals have returned to the Edinburgh pack for Duncan Hodge’s first game as acting head coach against Connacht tonight. Ross Ford, WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist and John Hardie are the quartet who return to the starting line-up for the PRO12 encounter in Galway, while behind the scrum Jason Tovey returns from injury to play at stand-off and Sean Kennedy starts at scrum-half for the first time this season.
Hodge, who only took charge of the team on Wednesday after Alan Solomons’ abrupt departure, said he hoped the introduction of new faces would be a morale boost for his team. “It's been a challenging week for all involved, but we've got a massive game we need to win on Friday night,” he said yesterday.
“In the short term our focus has got to be on tomorrow's match. We've got some fresh faces coming in from last week who will lift the team and give us a fresh energy for the game.
“Connacht have talismanic players among them and they're always a tough team to play, especially at home. They'll be physical, but we know what to expect. We have prepared well this week and can't wait to embrace the challenge, start to change our performances and get results for the club.”
Bottom of the PRO12 table after three straight defeats from three games, Connacht are at least as desperate for a win as Edinburgh, who lie ninth after winning one of their four matches. The defending champions had expected this to be a challenging campaign after losing several key players over the summer, but their mini-slump has nonetheless come as a surprise. If Edinburgh get on top up front they can extend Connacht’s misery, but they know they need to find a better blend between attack and defence than they have had in previous weeks.
Edinburgh (v Connacht at the Sportsground, tonight, 7.35pm) G Bryce; D Hoyland, C Dean, S Rasolea, M Allen; J Tovey, S Kennedy; R Sutherland, R Ford, W Nel, B Toolis, G Gilchrist, M Bradbury, J Hardie, C du Preez. Substitutes: S McInally, J Cosgrove, A Dell, L Carmichael, H Watson, S Hidalgo-Clyne, S Tofilau, B Kinghorn.
Connacht: T O’Halloran, N Adeolokun, B Aki, P Robb, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, C Carey, Q Roux, U Dillane,E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon. Substitutes: D Heffernan, R Loughney, F Bealham, L Stevenson, J Connolly, C Blade, S O’Leary, C Kelleher.
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