Leinster are fighting it out with the Scarlets for top spot in Conference B and sit two points behind the Welsh side, so a win away to Edinburgh will be important to keep up their push to finish top of the table.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, February 9
EDINBURGH (4th, Con B) v LEINSTER (2nd, Con B), Myreside, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Michael Bent will win his 100th Leinster cap when the province face Edinburgh at Myreside in tonight’s GUINNESS PRO14 clash. The Ireland prop made his Leinster debut in a 37-7 win over Zebre at the RDS in December 2012 and has gone on to represent the province 22 times in Europe and 77 times in the PRO14.
Speaking of Bent’s 100-cap milestone this week, Leinster scrum coach John Fogarty said: “One of the qualities that Michael has – he’s a quiet character – but he goes to work. He has worked on his game, he’s worked on his scrum, and he’s improved hugely. He’s very important for us.
“We’ve seen him over the years play both sides of the scrum, so he’s shown himself to be versatile. He’s improved his game, and he’s adapted to different coaches that have come in. Credit to Michael. I’m delighted for him and his family that he’s reached 100 caps.”
Bent will start at tighthead prop tonight, with Peter Dooley the starting loosehead. Richardt Strauss completes the front row and will captain Leinster at the PRO14 campaign resumes at the round 14 stage.
Ireland Sevens international Will Connors will make his senior Leinster debut in Scotland, starting at openside flanker. He is joined by Josh Murphy, who made his bow back in November, and Max Deeganto complete a youthful back row trio. Second rows Ross Molony and Scott Fardy complete the pack.
Rory O’Loughlin and Noel Reid will combine at centre for Leo Cullen’s men, with Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park getting the nod at half-back. Dave Kearney will start at full-back for Leinster for the first time since February 2015, with Barry Daly on the left wing.
Fergus McFadden and Luke McGrath, who were part of the Ireland matchday 23 in Paris last Saturday, have both been released from Ireland camp for the Edinburgh match. McFadden will start on the right wing and McGrath has been named among the replacements.
On the bench, versatile young back Ciaran Frawley is in line to make his senior debut for the province. Frawley featured for Leinster ‘A’ in all six of their British & Irish Cup pool games this season, playing at out-half, inside centre and full-back, helping Noel McNamara’s young side to top their pool.
Returning winger Adam Byrne also features on the bench and is set for his first outing with Leinster since making his Ireland debut in November and then undergoing knee surgery. The Kill native has not played at provincial level since the defeat away to Glasgow Warriors on November 3.
Meanwhile, the selected Edinburgh team sees the return of several key internationals as Richard Cockerill’s charges look to secure their eighth consecutive home victory in all competitions. Dougie Fife gets the nod at fullback after touching down against Stade Francais a fortnight ago. The Scotland Sevens star is joined in the back-three by wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.
After being named man-of-the-match against the Southern Kings in his last outing at Myreside, Scotland international Mark Bennett is named in the centre alongside Chris Dean who makes a timely return to action following a four-week injury lay-off. Nathan Fowles, who made his 50th appearance for the club against Stade Francais, and Jaco van der Walt are the half-backs.
In the front row, Jordan Lay gets the nod at loosehead prop and packs down alongside Cameron Fenton and Murray McCallum, who returns to Edinburgh duty after making his Scotland debut against Wales last weekend.
The dynamic paring of Lewis Carmichael and club captain Fraser McKenzie form the second row, while Academy graduate Luke Crosbie returns to the starting XV to link up with Jamie Ritchie and Bill Mata in the back row.
EDINBURGH: Dougie Fife; Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Chris Dean, Duhan van der Merwe; Jaco van der Walt, Nathan Fowles; Jordan Lay, Cameron Fenton, Murray McCallum, Fraser McKenzie (capt), Lewis Carmichael, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Bill Mata.
Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Rory Sutherland, Matt Shields, Magnus Bradbury, John Hardie, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Junior Rasolea, Glenn Bryce.
LEINSTER: Dave Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Rory O’Loughlin, Noel Reid, Barry Daly; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Peter Dooley, Richardt Strauss (capt), Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Scott Fardy, Josh Murphy, Will Connors, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Oisin Heffernan, Mick Kearney, Peadar Timmins, Luke McGrath, Ciaran Frawley, Adam Byrne.
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson, Lloyd Linton (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Edinburgh to win: 6/4; Draw: 25/1; Leinster to win: 8/15
Pre-Match Quotes: Michael Bent (Leinster) – “It’s taken time but I’m pretty happy to be clocking up 100 games. At the start of this season it was something I targeted to achieve during the year, so I’m pretty happy. I signed a two-year contract when I first came over so it was pretty much just see how things go and after that signed on again and after that signed on again.
“There have been certain things I’ve targeted along the way, and certain things that have kept me motivated. But it wasn’t something I necessarily thought was going to happen until more recent times. I guess I would have been in and out of the Irish camp so certain goals were to get back in there and get a few more caps.
“When I was coming up to 50 games for Leinster that was a motivating factor at the time and various times getting back from injury and being available for bigger games. These four games are going to be very important for the season overall and that’s the focus for the moment.
“We’re in our own groups. We’ve got the front row that talk around the scrum and then the lineout group get together and talk about the lineout. I’m certainly trying to lead on that front.”
Richard Cockerill (Edinburgh) – “This block of four games is going to be crucial for us. We’ve got to knock some big teams over. It will be a test for us mentally, as we’re missing a few senior guys with the national team, but we’ve played pretty well across the squad this year.
“Leinster present a huge challenge, because as they’ve shown throughout the season, they’re one of the best teams in the GUINNESS PRO14. But, we’ve worked hard again this week and are going into the game with a positive mindset around how we’re going to play.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Edinburgh – Points: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 50; Tries: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 6; Leinster – Points: Ross Byrne 92; Tries: Rory O’Loughlin 6
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Edinburgh – Played 13, Won 8, Lost 5, 37 Points; W 20-10 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 35-18 v Dragons (home), L 20-17 v Benetton Rugby (home), L 28-8 v Scarlets (away), L 21-13 v Leinster (away), W 16-15 v Zebre (home), W 24-13 v Benetton Rugby (away), W 37-10 v Ospreys (home), L 33-13 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 48-21 v Southern Kings (away), W 18-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 17-0 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 37-7 v Southern Kings (home); Leinster – Played 13, Won 11, Lost 2, 51 Points; W 39-16 v Dragons (away), W 37-9 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 31-10 v Southern Kings (away), L 38-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 21-13 v Edinburgh (home), W 23-17 v Munster (home), W 25-10 v Ulster (away), L 31-21 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 54-10 v Dragons (home), W 36-10 v Benetton Rugby (away), W 34-24 v Munster (away), W 21-18 v Connacht (home), W 38-7 v Ulster (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Edinburgh 23 Leinster 36, BT Murrayfield
Friday, September 4, 2015 – Edinburgh 16 Leinster 9, Meggetland
Friday, April 15, 2016 – Leinster 30 Edinburgh 23, the RDS
Friday, September 16, 2016 – Edinburgh 20 Leinster 33, BT Murrayfield
Friday, February 17, 2017 – Leinster 39 Edinburgh 10, the RDS
Friday, September 29, 2017 – Leinster 21 Edinburgh 13, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Edinburgh have lost just twice in the GUINNESS PRO14 since round 5, both away from home, at the Toyota Cheetahs in November and at Glasgow Warriors in December
– Edinburgh’s only home defeat in any competition this season was 20-17 to Benetton Rugby in the PRO14 in September
– Edinburgh have won only one of their last fifteen fixtures against Irish provinces: 28-17 against Ulster at BT Murrayfield in November 2016
– Leinster have won their last nine matches in all competitions since they were defeated on their most recent visit to Scotland, against Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium in the PRO14 on November 3
– Leinster have lost just once to Edinburgh since December 2013: 16-9 at Meggetland in the opening game of the 2015/16 season
– Leinster have not played at Myreside since a visit in the Champions Cup in October 2000, with Edinburgh winning 29-21
– Paul Williams becomes only the second New Zealand referee to take charge of a PRO14 game, following international referee Kelvin Deaker who refereed Scarlets v Munster in November 2006
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