Edinburgh v Ulster: Ross Rennie available for Scott

The game against Ulster, currently alongside Glasgow at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12, has little bearing for Edinburgh, other than providing an opportunity to claim a first league win since early December. But a victory would help Glasgow’s chances of claiming a place in the top four.

Scott admitted: “It’s a big game for us, but also for Scottish rugby and, while our focus is firmly on lifting things at Edinburgh in these last five games, if we can help Glasgow at the same time then obviously it would be great for the Scottish game.

“It’s a unique situation really to come into a team that can’t get relegated and can’t win anything but there is still a lot for us to play for.

“We can make improvements in certain areas of the game, build confidence and win games. That’s why we’re here, to help the team win again, and that’s what these players want to do. There may not be a title left to go for, but winning these last games, particularly in front of your own supporters, is what makes all the work worthwhile. And these guys are very capable of beating any side if they can bring to the game what they’re doing on the training field.”

After two years as forwards coach at Sale, Scott was handed a route back into the game by the SRU in January, as a coach with Scotland. His contract there ended at the weekend but the SRU are keen to see whether he and Duncan Hodge, his assistant at Edinburgh, have what it takes to become part of a new Edinburgh set-up. The likelihood is that they are trying out for assistant roles under a new head coach but that motivation could be helpful to Edinburgh if it inspires the players.

Rennie’s return should also help. The openside flanker has been out of the game since suffering a dislocated shoulder playing for Scotland against New Zealand in November, while Kennedy’s introduction was stalled when he was loaned to Glasgow to ease their injury crisis. The 21-year-old academy scrum-half duly grasped that opportunity to push himself further up the ladder, however, with fine displays for Glasgow, earning himself a Scotland A cap and call-up to the full Scotland training squad.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend was hugely impressed by the Stirling youngster but, with Henry Pyrgos restored after international duty, Niko Matawalu starring for the club and youngster Murray McConnell fit again, there was no doubt that Kennedy would return to Edinburgh once his loan deal came to an end. His form may just have persuaded Edinburgh that they no longer need the experienced Welshman Richie Rees, who has been released to return to Wales with Newport Gwent Dragons.

Scott and his interim assistant Hodge are keen now to see Kennedy build on the promise shown and assess the rest of the squad as they work with the SRU to identify where it needs strengthening for next season.

So, Kennedy starts against Ulster tonight alongside stand-off Piers Francis, who Hodge in particular is keen to see close-up after the youngster was recommended to Scotland by former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith.

Netani Talei returns at No 8 eager to prove himself worthy of a new contract this summer and, with Matt Scott rested after playing every minute of Scotland’s Six Nations campaign, and Nick de Luca injured, Ben Atiga is back at inside centre with Dougie Fife in the 13 jersey. Tom Brown, Lee Jones and Greig Tonks fill the back three slots.

Edinburgh’s last game was a 14-13 defeat away to the Scarlets, where the Scots put in a good performance against a side still in the hunt for the play-offs. They they also lost by just a single point, 17-16, to Cardiff in their last run-out at Murrayfield so, despite languishing in tenth spot, they are not far away from being competitive.

Ulster are without Six Nations players Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Iain Henderson, but head coach Mark Anscombe has brought stand-off Paddy Jackson back among seven changes to the side that stuttered last time out in a 29-29 draw at home to Treviso.

Their South African skipper, Johann Muller, returns for the first time since February and is joined in the second row by Lewis Stevenson, with regular lock Dan Tuohy named in the back row alongside Mike McComish and Robbie Diack. , With Tom Court back, All Blacks prop John Afoa switches back from loosehead to his regular tighthead berth.

Jared Payne plays at full-back for the first time since the beginning of January and is joined in the back three by Andrew Trimble and Michael Allen, while Paul Marshall also returns alongside stand-off Jackson.

Ulster’s rise over the past year has stemmed largely from their quality reserves but, crucially, they are still without Springbok maestro Ruan Pienaar, who has been the difference in close games against Scottish sides in the past. Scott certainly has confidence and believes that his side can go the distance tonight and bring Murrayfield its first club win since the 23-13 defeat of the Ospreys in November.

“From what I know of them and off the back of what I have seen in training, Edinburgh have quality players,” the new coach added, “and the enthusiasm and intent the boys have shown this week has been outstanding.

“I know that every new coach tends to get an initial reaction, so we’ll see how it goes, but the reaction has been positive to what had been a difficult time for them. I firmly believe that my background as a player at Edinburgh and with Scotland, my coaching from three years I coached Selkirk to the two years with Sale, and the involvement with Scotland, and the passion I have for seeing Edinburgh and Scottish rugby do well gives me a chance to make a difference here.

“But it’s all very well you asking me about what I hope to bring – it’s all about the players and the supporters, not me and Hodgey. They have had a difficult season and the loyal fans that have stuck with the club deserve a result, and the players need something back for all the hard work they’ve put in.

“It rarely happens overnight, but we can start to make a difference by putting in a good performance against Ulster that pleases the fans and gives the players belief.”

TEAMS

Edinburgh

15 G Tonks

14 L Jones

13 D Fife

12 B Atiga

11 T Brown

10 P Francis

9 S Kennedy

1 Allan Jacobsen

2 S Lawrie

3 W Nel

4 G Gilchrist

5 S Cox (capt)

6 S McInally

7 R Rennie

8 N Talei

Subs

16 R Ford

17 J Yapp

18 G Cross

19 P Parker

20 H Watson

21 R Rees

22 H Leonard

23 T Visser

Ulster

15 J Payne

14 A Trimble

13 D Cave

12 S Olding

11 M Allen

10 P Jackson

9 P Marshall

1 T Court

2 R Herring

3 J Afoa

4 J Muller

5 L Stevenson

6 D Tuohy

7 M McComish

8 R Diack

Subs

16 N Annett

17 C Black

18 R Lutton

19 N Williams

20 A Birch

21 M Heaney

22 R Andrew

23 P Nelson