Rugby: Test stars will help Edinburgh debutant

Published on Thursday 2 September 2010 12:46

ROOKIE Lee Jones will draw on the experience of 11 full internationalists around him when making a competitive Edinburgh Rugby debut at Cardiff in the Magners League tomorrow evening.

For the 22-year-old winger, recognition has come late but, since being signed towards the end of last season, he has made the most of every opportunity and can particularly benefit, he says, from a run in the latest Scotland sevens squad.

"At the Murrayfield tournament in May I was included alongside Ben Cairns, who plays right alongside me at centre with Edinburgh. Ben and I developed some understanding in the sevens and all over the Edinburgh side are capped players who will undoubtedly help settle any nerves I might have and generally make me feel a bit more comfortable."

Liable to be lining up in the Cardiff three-quarter line is Lions star Jamie Roberts but, again, Jones is unfazed.

"One of the reasons for playing is to test yourself against the best players and, when opportunities come, you have to take them with both hands," said Jones, who certainly did that when his half-time introduction as a substitute last Friday brought two match-winning tries against London Irish.

Those touchdowns were the first scored on the Murrayfield turf by Jones since he helped Selkirk High win the inaugural Scottish schools seven-a-side tournament by beating a Robert Gordon's College team spearheaded by subsequent Glasgow Warriors signing Ruaridh Jackson.

"The whole occasion against London Irish was pretty surreal," said Jones, adding: "I was surprised to be selected in the first place but (coach) Rob Moffat said everybody had a chance over the two pre-season matches also including Bath to stake a claim for the first league outing.

"It was strange to be one of 13 half-time changes against London Irish (Edinburgh trailed 8-16) but this brought a lot of energy to the later stages.

"The starting line-up set a good example and fortunately the new arrivals were able to carry this on."

Regarding his tries, Jones said: "For the first try David Blair almost got to the (loose) ball after a great bit of skill chipping ahead before the defender covered across.

"David then got to his feet quickly and I managed to get down the blindside to the line."

Jones' second touchdown, three minutes from full-time, also involved exploiting a gap close to the touchline.

"Greig Laidlaw did a great job drawing a defender and left me just having to dot down. The real lesson, though, came in the way we patiently held on to possession in the opposition '22'.

"We've watched the build-up to the score on video this week and it reinforced the point that even a week earlier, at Bath, we would probably have lost the ball allowing the defence to kick long and put us on the back foot.

"The message we have taken on board is that if we can keep the ball especially in our opponents' '22' then, eventually, a chance will come."

So far as Edinburgh fans are concerned it could be a case of 'catch him while you can' in the early part of the season with Jones selected for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games sevens tournament.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have been told they have a mountain to climb if they are to make it five wins in-a-row against a Cardiff side looking to add to a runs of eight victories to round off last season.

The warning comes from ex-Scotland and Lions coach Jim Telfer, who says in his weekly STV blog: "Edinburgh have tried to toughen up their forward pack with new signings Jack Gilding, Netani Talei and the Argentine lock Esteban Lozada.

"Being a Fijian, Talei loves to run with the ball and hopefully he can have the same influence off the back of the scrum as Xavier Rush has for Cardiff. Jim Hamilton never really fitted into the Edinburgh set up, so Lozada has a golden chance to become a local favourite.

"What struck me about Edinburgh's performance against London Irish on Friday night was the schizophrenic nature of their play.

"Most things appeared to be 'off the cuff' - witness the Chris Paterson try from a quick free kick - and there seemed to be more shape when David Blair and Greg Laidlaw replaced Phil Godman and Mike Blair at half back.

"They also appeared to lose out on the 'physicality stakes' at centre and full back, where Delon Armitage, Elvis Seveali'i and Seilala Mapusua looked colossal. On the plus side, young Lee Jones looked impressive and thoroughly deserves his chance to start against Cardiff Blues.

"I see the Blues as a major player in all competitions this season and, with Dan Parks controlling the game at No.? 10, it is probably fortuitous that Edinburgh play them so early. I expect the Capital side to struggle in this game."

AIRONI

Built around the Parma and Viadana clubs, they will undoubtedly need time to settle into a heavy travelling schedule as well as blend players. But they have repatriated the likes of ex-Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami and the squad is stacked with familiar names from the Six Nations including Kaine Robertson, Carlo del Fava and Fabio Ongaro.

Key man: Stand off Ludovic Mercier was decent at Gloucester but is now in the twilight of his career.

BENETTON TREVISO

Were in Edinburgh's pool during the first season of Euro rugby and actually won the encounter at Myreside. Last season they defeated Perpignan and with the likes of Azzurri stars Luke McLean and Alessandro Zanni in a squad coached by ex-Springbok Franco Smith they will cause upsets.

Key man: Winger Matteo Pratichetti is an outside bet to finish top league try scorer.

CARDIFF BLUES

MIKE PATERSON, from Wellington Hurricanes, should give the back row some steel and they will be desperate to get off to a flier having proved sluggish starters in the past few seasons.

Key man: Former Warrior Dan Parks' 1105 points make him the only player in the league with a tally into four figures.

CONNACHT

Saved their best form of last season for the Amlin Challenge Trophy when they won home and away against Montpellier, Worcester and Madrid before bowing out in the knock out stages against Toulon. Under a new coach in Eric Elwood.

Key man: Despite his team finishing bottom last term winger/full back Fionn Carr still managed to be the league's fourth top try scorer with seven.

DRAGONS

Have drafted in a few more Welsh-eligible players and shipped out a few foreigners under coach Paul Turner. Completed a double over Edinburgh last year when, after inching through 9-8 at Murrayfield they romped to a 49-28 success at home.

Key man: Captain Tom Willis is a no-nonsense kiwi hooker who has put some injury problems behind him.

GLASGOW WARRIORS

Could have done without long-term injuries to Al Kellock and Chris Cusiter on the back of the departing fellow Scotland caps Kelly Brown and Dan Parks. But coach Sean Lineen's team are notoriously difficult to beat at Firhill.

Key man: They really need international threequarter Max Evans to give a lead.

LEINSTER

Former Bay of Plenty coach Joe Schmidt has replaced Michael Cheika at the helm and there have been several retirals since they lost the play-off final last season including Bernard Jackman, Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm O'Kelly.

Key man: Fijian Isa Nacewa is a versatile back, handy when O'Driscoll, D'Arcy etc are ruled out.

MUNSTER

Paul O'Connell is destined to spend the start of the season on the sidelines injured. That puts a heavy onus on Donncha O'Callaghan but hooker Jerry Flannery is fit again.

Key man: No.10 Ronan O'Gara is a points machine - when he plays.

OSPREYS

The champions' defence will be all the harder for starting with a four-point penalty for cancelling a fixture claiming they didn't have sufficient props available. But there is sufficient class to make up that shortfall notably Shane Williams and the league's record try scorer with 39, Tommy Bowe.

Key man: Centre/full back Tom Prydie was called into the Welsh squad aged 17 last winter and justified that promotion with a first cap against the All Blacks on tour.

SCARLETS

Edinburgh's last league away win was at this Llanelli-based side in December. Always capable of raising their game but have much to prove this term.

Key man: An on-form Sean Lamont is always capable of kicking up a storm.

ULSTER

The dark horses with Springbok utility back Ruan Pienaar joining along with fellow countrymen Johann Muller (second row) Pedrie Wannenburg (flanker). Showed capabilities last season notably beating Edinburgh, Stade Francais and Bath at home in the European Cup but badly need consistency.

Key man: When he arrives after Tri-Nations duty, Ruan Pienaar will be a class act.