Rennie replaces Newlands as Edinburgh prepare for the Ospreys

Published on Thursday 27 November 2008 09:18

EDINBURGH have made one change to their team for tomorrow's home clash with Ospreys when Celtic League rugby resumes in the Capital.

Returning to the starting line-up is Test flanker Ross Rennie with Scott Newlands dropping out. Rennie made his comeback from a seventh-month absence due to a knee injury from off the bench in Edinburgh's 27-14 win at Connacht just before the Autumn Tests got underway. He has subsequently turned out in a back-up game against Glasgow as well as the ill-fated clash with Georgia.

The floodlights failed after 26 minutes of that challenge but there was still an opportunity for Rennie to impress coach Andy Robinson with two tries which were mainly based on superb support running. Afterwards Rennie said: "We do a lot of contact stuff in training but it is nothing like playing in a game."

Besides signalling Rennie's return, tomorrow's match will also be a red-letter occasion for winger Simon Webster, who will be making his 100th appearance for Edinburgh.

Signed from Northampton Saints in 2002, Webster made his first appearance in a friendly against Newcastle Falcons and has proved a consistent try-scorer as his Edinburgh record of 24 Celtic League touchdowns shows.

Elsewhere, Alan MacDonald is able to continue after being ruled out of Scotland A's recent meeting with Georgia due to a thigh strain while there is a vote of confidence for another member of that side, Mark Robertson, who holds off the challenge of Hugo Southwell for a place.

Edinburgh: Paterson; Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Webster; Godman, Blair (capt); Jacobsen, Ford, G Cross, Hamilton, Gissing, MacDonald, Hogg, Rennie. Subs: tbc.