Neil Cochrane captains Edinburgh as they look to derail Munster’s title challenge in their first Guinness PRO12 game this season at new permanent home Myreside. Duncan Hodge’s side gave their new home a fine christening against Timisoara Saracens in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they won 49-3 to seal a home quarter-final. But Rassie Erasmus’ side are unbeaten in the Guinness PRO12 since October, with a solitary loss away to Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup the only stain on their record. What’s at stake? Despite their flying form in the Challenge Cup – where they beat Stade Francais at BT Murrayfield and a home-and-away double over Harlequins – Edinburgh have slipped to tenth in the Guinness PRO12. A win for Hodge’s men would see them leapfrog Newport and Connacht Rugby into eighth place, but against second-place Munster, they won’t be in for an easy ride. Tonight we #defendthecastle! 7.35pm Kickoff #OurCityYourClub pic.twitter.com/gWDUaww2pz — Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) February 3, 2017 Erasmus’ team lost top spot to Ospreys after they missed a weekend due to rearranged European commitments and will be keen to rectify that at Myreside. The Irish province are three points behind Tandy’s side, but have won the same number of games and any form of victory would see them return to the Guinness PRO12 summit. Team news (Edinburgh) With Ireland set to face Scotland at BT Murrayfield less than 24 hours later to kick off the 2017 RBS 6 Nations, both sides have lost bodies, but Edinburgh have maintained the core of their young side. Blair Kinghorn starts at full-back, with Damien Hoyland and Tom Brown on the wings, and Chris Dean and Phil Burleigh in the centres. Neil Cochrane skippers the side from hooker, while Scotland back-rowers Magnus Bradbury and John Hardie start on the flanks and recent addition to Vern Cotter’s RBS 6 Nations squad Cornell du Preez at No. 8. Team news (Munster) South African powerhouse centre Jaco Taute starts in the unfamiliar position of full-back, while former All Black Francis Saili pulls on the No. 13 jersey and Ronan O’Mahony, who has five tries in the Guinness PRO12 this year, staring on one wing and Dan Goggin on the other. Ireland cap Jack O’Donoghue starts at No. 8, while Dave Foley and Jean Kleyn link up in the second-row. Test trio Dave Kilcoyne, Billy Holland and Tommy O’Donnell – as well as Rory Scannell – are all among the replacements. 🎥📷📈 Players to watch, pre-match stats, quotes & more. Read our full #EDIvMUN preview | https://t.co/XvS90IcrHt pic.twitter.com/KPOOh4jFwZ — Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 3, 2017 Talking points: With such heavy artillery kept in reserve, Munster can count on a real surge in the second half. Kilcoyne, Holland, O’Donnell and Scannell have all been integral to Munster’s potent form since Erasmus took the reins and even if Edinburgh can make an impact with their powerful starting pack, they face a challenge when the Irishmen roll on their reinforcements. In Stuart McInally and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Hodge has two Test players of his own to roll out as the game wears on, but in Hardie, Du Preez, Bradbury and Ben Toolis, he will hope his starters can soften up Erasmus’ charges. Key battle:.Tyler Bleyendaal v Jason Tovey With players missing on international duty, the role of these two playmakers becomes even more emphasised. Jason Tovey has been a calming influence on Edinburgh when he has featured this term and is a perfect deputy to Duncan Weir. The Welshman will be integral in bringing Du Preez and Bradbury into the game going forward. Bleyendaal has been one of Europe’s form No.10s this year, racking up 139 points across all competitions and turning in a man-of-the-match performance in Munster’s remarkable 38-17 Champions Cup win over Glasgow Warriors. The New Zealander is dangerous going forward and solid from the tee, if Edinburgh can stop him, they may be able to stop Munster. Key stat: Munster have lost only one of their last ten encounters with Edinburgh in the Guinnnes PRO12, and that by a solitary point in Limerick in the opening round of the 2014/15 campaign. Did you know? The last time Edinburgh played a Guinness PRO12 game at Myreside was in February 2015 when they beat current league leaders Ospreys 24-16. Edinburgh: Top points scorer: 69 – Duncan Weir Top try scorer: 4 – Magnus Bradbury Munster: Top points scorer: 78 – Tyler Bleyendaal Top try scorer: 66 – Ronan O’Mahony Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 29, Edinburgh won 6, Munster won 23. At Myreside, 7.35pm Live on Sky Sports Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 33rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (WRU), Dunx Clement (SRU) Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (SRU) TMO: Neil Hennessy Guinness PRO12 Final 2017, 27th May, Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Ticket Information: Fans can still avail of an exclusive number of €30 tickets. Book via www.ticketmaster.ie. Further information: www.pro12rugby.com/final
