Paterson to lead revamped Edinburgh
Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat has freshened up his starting line-up for the Magners League trip to Scarlets on Friday by making five changes including appointing Chris Paterson as captain.
Both first team captain Mike Blair (ankle) and vice captain Allister Hogg (hip) are ruled out through injury, so Paterson, who missed the previous match against Dragons because of a foot infection, has been selected to lead the side.
Moffat believes the 31-year-old will prove to be a sound choice for the job and inspire second-placed Edinburgh to their fifth Magners League win of the season.
Moffat said: “What we have been trying to build for a while now is a group of leaders and we are fortunate to be able to call upon someone like Chris with his experience and I’m sure he will lead by example.”
After starting every match for Edinburgh so far this season and featuring in all three Autumn Tests for Scotland, Phil Godman has been rested for the match at Parc y Scarlets and Moffat believes it is important that the stand-off’s wellbeing is managed carefully.
He added: “I think it is important that Phil is managed well over the course of the season, in terms of his game-time. He played in every match for Scotland, but he has also played a lot of rugby for us as well.
“We just thought it was sensible to rest him this week and to give him time to freshen up.”
Godman’s replacement, David Blair last started for Edinburgh almost nine months ago coincidentally at the same venue, Parc y Scarlets.
But Moffat believes the former Sale back will be an able replacement in the playmaker role.
He said: “David has got a chance this week and I’m sure he will take it. He has been around a while – he is 24 and he has been a professional for about five years, so he is an experienced campaigner.”
Greig Laidlaw, named man-of-the-match following Scotland A’s win over Tonga, takes over the number nine jersey in Blair senior’s absence while Roddy Grant comes back into the back-row at openside with Scott Newlands shifting across to the base of the scrum.
Up front, Andrew Kelly reclaims the hooker slot with Scotland internationalist Ross Ford named amongst the replacements after a physically demanding Autumn Test series.
Fresh from scoring a try for Scotland A against Tonga, Mark Robertson reclaims the number 14 jersey while lock Scott MacLeod is selected to face his former club.
After featuring for Gael Force in the British and Irish Cup, Scotland back-rower David Callam, back from a long-term hip injury, has been called into the squad for the first time since September 2008 and is amongst the substitutes.
On the injury front, club captain Simon Cross is still out with a knee injury alongside Andrew Easson (knee) while Ross Rennie, who appeared for Gael Force two weeks ago, is edging ever closer to a first team return.
Scotland lock Jim Hamilton (knee) is close to returning to full squad training while Simon Webster is out with a hamstring injury.
Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies, meanwhile, has brought back some of the Scarlets’ big performers for Friday’s clash. Returning Wales internationals Jon Davies and Martin Roberts are included in the starting line-up with world-class pivot Stephen Jones set to make an appearance from the bench.
Teams:
Scarlets:15 Daniel Evans, 14 Lee Williams, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons (captain). 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Dominic Day 4 Lou Reed 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements: 16 Phil John, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Vernon Cooper, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Gareth Maule
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson (captain), 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Tim Visser, 10 David Blair, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Scott Newlands, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Alan MacDonald, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Steve Turnbull, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Andrew Kelly, 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 David Callam, 20 Ross Samson, 21 John Houston, 22 Jim Thompson.
Date: Friday, 4 December
Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 19.05
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Assistant referees: Tim Hayes (Wales) Ken Bowen (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
