Pre-Heineken taster poses tough test for Edinburgh

The capital clubs made the last four of Europe’s premier competition with home wins over Cardiff Blues and Toulouse in Dublin and Edinburgh respectively and now head into two rounds of the RaboDirect before returning to the penultimate round of the Heineken Cup.

Coincidentally the Dubliners follow tonight’s match with a trip to Belfast, where they will face Edinburgh’s European semi-final opponents, Ulster, while Edinburgh head for Cardiff, completing a mini-series of top-class European rugby, in which the clubs will seek to retain their winning momentum.

Edinburgh will look to do so in the back yard of a side 11 points clear at the top of the Pro12 and just one win away from securing a coveted home play-off spot.

Speaking at yesterday’s team announcement press conference, head coach Michael Bradley, said: “We face a very tough task in Dublin this weekend against a side who comfortably made the semi-finals for the fourth successive season.

“As league leaders and European pace-setters they will be keen to make big statements between now and the continuation of their European title defence.

“What pleases me is that we go into the match off the back of two wins over quality opposition, Scarlets and Toulouse, from which we can take a lot of confidence.

“As a team we must acknowledge the effort and commitment required on those days and prepare appropriately for another significant challenge this weekend at the RDS.”

Bradley, who was boosted yesterday by the news that Wales internationals Richie Rees and John Yapp will join Edinburgh from Cardiff Blues in time for next season’s domestic and European campaigns, has made just one personnel change to the squad that toppled Toulouse, but has sought to refresh the front-line with five changes to the first XV.

Scrum-half Chris Leck is the only change to the back division, continuing where he left off in the Toulouse game, having replaced the injured Mike Blair (shoulder) at the interval.

Kyle Traynor replaces the injured Allan Jacobsen (face) at loose-head prop, with Esteban Lozada reintroduced to the squad to start alongside Sean Cox in the second-row.

Finally, the club’s healthy back-row options are rotated as Stuart McInally and Roddy Grant swap places with David Denton and Ross Rennie respectively.

Jamie Heaslip captains Leinster and the Naas man is one of three survivors in the starting XV from last weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter-final for the visit of the Scots.

In all there are eight Ireland internationals in the line-up, with Heaslip joined in the back row by Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock. Damian Browne makes his 20th appearance of the season and partners Devin Toner at lock, with Sean Cronin joining Heinke van der Merwe and Nathan White in the front row after the trio featured in the 34-3 victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend.

Isaac Boss partners Ian Madigan (who is second in the Pro12’s try-scoring list this season with seven in 17 games so far) at half back. The Blackrock College out-half is in line to make his 45th Leinster appearance, with Fergus McFadden lining up in the midfield alongside Gordon D’Arcy. Fionn Carr, right winger David Kearney and Isa Nacewa complete the line-up.

Over 15,600 tickets have been sold for tonight’s game which will incorporate the specially themed ‘Leinster Rugby Spring Fling’.