Ulster Rugby vs Edinburgh

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A number of the young players who
began 2014/15 on the fringes of the
team – such as Sam Hidalgo-Clyne,
Hamish Watson and Ben Toolis – were
given their opportunity to shine early
in the season, which led to Scotland
caps. A progression very much in line
with head coach Alan Solomons’ aim
to build the club through its young
Scottish talent.
This year’s new signings included
Scotland age grade stand-off Blair
Kinghorn, who impressed at Easter
for Scotland U 18 before travelling
to the Junior World Championships
with Scotland U 20 just a few months
later. The 18-year-old made his first
team debut, off the bench against
Zebre, and has started in subsequent
encounters.
During the summer, a number of
local club players were involved in
pre-season training and two of that
number, Melrose scrum-half Murdo
McAndrew and Biggar prop Craig
Bachurzewski, were signed to the
capital side on trial.
A variety of experience was also added
to the ranks with the signings of winger
Will Helu from Wasps, back row Nasi
Manu fresh from Super Rugby Cup
success with the Highlanders, Ulster
wing/centre Michael Allen, Tongan
winger Otulea Katoa and, more
recently, Highlanders flanker John
Hardie.
The backroom team was also
strengthened over the summer with
Duncan Hodge freshly arrived as
Backs Coach, following Rugby World
Cup duties with Scotland, and Peter
Wilkins on board as defence coach.
A new managing director is also in
place, in the shape of former Scotland
captain Jonny Petrie.
After pre-season friendy wins over
Romania and Ulster, a home fixture
against Leinster kicked off the
Guinness PRO12 on 4 September.
Temporarily decamped from BT
Murrayfield due to a rescheduled
Foo Fighters concert, a vocal crowd
cheered Edinburgh to the win which
featured a brace of tries from winger
Damien Hoyland and a man-of-the-
match performance from Nasi Manu.
Away to Treviso the following week,
Edinburgh secured the win though lost
the services of lock Ben Toolis due to
injury. Two more home wins followed,
against Ospreys and Ulster, to secure
the capital club’s spot at the top of the
table.
The run then came a halt in northern
Italy as Zebre took the win then
Connacht saw off Edinburgh in Galway.
Back at base, the club were just edged
by Munster, 14-16, before European
action called.
A 28-10 victory over visitors Grenoble,
with a two-try man of the match
performance by Cornell Du Preez
kicked off the Challenge Cup
campaign, followed by a 27-6 win
over Agen away on an emotional
night in southern France, with weather
conditions matching the mood.
Back in the PRO12 last weekend, the
home crowd cheered Edinburgh to a
bonus-point victory over Dragons, with
prop WP Nel putting in a commanding
performance. The club now lie sixth
in the league table, one place above
tonight’s combatants but equal on
points, only five points in total currently
separating the sides in third to seventh
place.
European Challenge Cup finalists and 1872 Cup holders
Edinburgh Rugby went into the new season looking to
build on the good work begun last year, clad in new chain-
mail inspired armour for their battles ahead.
CLUB STATS
//Location
Edinburgh, Scotland
//Founded
1970
//Ground
BT Murrayfield Stadium
//Capacity
67,144
//Last Game
Newport Gwent Dragons (H)
32 - 13 (W)
Friday 26th Sept 2014 at 19:35
//Next Game
Glasgow Warriors (H)
Friday 27 Nov 2015 at 19:35
//Recent Form
W L L L W
STAFF
// Coach
Alan Solomons
// Captain
Mike Coman
CONTACT
BT Murrayfield Stadium
Edinburgh
Scotland
Tel 0131 346 5252
Fax 0131 346 5269
Email
TICKET OFFICE
Tel 0131 346 5180
Edinburgh Rugby (official)
edinburghrugby
EdinburghRugbyTV
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