Edinburgh team to face Gloucester announced

Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons today named the team that with look to put a gloss on the club’s 100th appearance in Heineken Cup competition at Murrayfield Stadium this Sunday.

Alan Solomons has announced the team to face Gloucester. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Standing in their way are English Premiership side Gloucester, who arrive in the capital for the first leg of a European Cup double header in a fiercely competitive pool.

All four teams in the group - which is completed by two-time champions Munster and French Top 14 side, Perpignan - go into the weekend with one win from the opening two rounds, with Edinburgh and Gloucester level on four points.

The hosts can take confidence form their consistently improving home from, winning four consecutive matches ar Murrayfield, that started with their round one win over Munster in October.

Solomons said: “Winning engenders confidence, so we can obviously take something from these games, but we know this will be a very tough match. We are under no illusions about that.

“Gloucester are a good side. They have a very good back line with big, pacy, powerful individuals that present a number of defensive challenges, while you can never underestimate a Gloucester forward pack. They are a team that historically have been built on their forwards.”

He continued: “At this stage the group is very tight, so this is a critical round. Clearly you have to try and win your home games, which is always important, but particularly in the Heineken Cup.

“We always strive to improve. This Sunday we are up against really good opponents in a top-flight competition, which presents a great opportunity for us.”

Solomons has made two changes to the side that recorded a four-try win over Connacht last weekend, with Scotland internationalists Ross Ford (hooker) and Grant Gilchrist (lock) returning from calf and shoulder injuries respectively.

Consequently, Aleki Lutui and Ollie Atkins move to the bench where they are joined by scrum-half, Grayson Hart, who has been rewarded for his impressive form for Gala in the RBS Premiership, and Joaquin Dominguez, who replaces the ineligible Sam Beard.

Edinburgh Rugby team to play Gloucester in the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield Stadium this Sunday (kick-off 1pm)

Line-up v Gloucester

15 Greig Tonks

14 Dougie Fife

13 Nick De Luca

12 Ben Atiga

11 Jack Cuthbert

10 Harry Leonard

9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

1 Alasdair Dickinson

2 Ross Ford

3 WP Nel

4 Grant Gilchrist

5 Izak van der Westhuizen

6 Cornell Du Preez

7 Ross Rennie

8 David Denton

Substitutes

16 Aleki Lutui

17 Wics Blaauw

18 Geoff Cross

19 Ollie Atkins

20 Roddy Grant

21 Grayson Hart

22 Joaquin Dominguez

23 Tom Brown