Edinburgh Rugby vs Leinster Rugby
URC Round 15
DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Saturday, 4th March 2023, 17:05

TV: Live: Premier Sports/TG4

Ireland face a trip to Edinburgh next week looking to complete the fourth leg of a Grand Slam. But this week, it's Leinster's turn to visit "Auld Reekie".

Leinster are of course looking to secure first place in the table and are currently twelve points ahead of Stormers. A win this weekend coupled with the Stormers failing to beat the Sharks earlier on Saturday afternoon could do the trick, but it's probably more likely it will come down to Leinster's next game at home to the Stormers on the 24th of March.

Edinburgh made the play-offs last season but look less likely to this year, with just five wins to their name and lying 11th in the table. They have competed well in the Champions Cup this season though, beating Saracens in their final pool match to secure a last sixteen spot. However even that win was tinged with regret. Just one more match point would have secured them a home knock-out game but they bewilderingly kicked the ball out while in possession near the halfway line with the last play of the game.

Their head coach Mike Blair attempted to say it was their choice to settle for what they had, but any opponent at home would be preferable to an away trip to champions La Rochelle so he wasn't fooling anyone. Blair has been in the news this week revealing he won't be renewing his contract at the end of the season, which won't have helped his team's preparations for tomorrow's game.

Blair has named a team showing five changes from the heavy defeat away to Scarlets last time out. The return of experienced internationals Stuart McInally and Emiliano Boffelli are a major boost particularly with Boffelli's pinpoint place-kicking. Ben Vellacott, Lee-Roy Atalifo and Marshall Sykes are the other three changes to the starting team. It's interesting that both Luke Crosbie (who skippers the team) and Hamish Watson are both named to start in the back row. Crosbie was Scotland's starting seven for the first two rounds of the championship before Watson took over for the France game. The Scotland management obviously feel Watson needs the gametime but it will mean Edinburgh will have the weapons to really come after Leinster at the breakdown tomorrow.

Leinster's last outing against the Dragons was another commanding win but it was a far scratchier performance than the scoreline would suggest. Though clearly out-matched, the Dragons at least tried their damnedest and dominated possession for large spells of the game. Leinster's previous opponents Cardiff could certainly learn from the attitude of their compatriots.

Like his Edinburgh counterpart, Leo Cullen was also in the news this week but this was to confirm he'd signed a new two-year contract extension. Leo is such a low-profile individual, his contribution isn't always fully appreciated especially compared to the garlands thrown the departing Stuart Lancaster's way. But he's an astute operator and it's good to have him still at the wheel for at least another couple of years.

Cullen has made just two changes to the team that started a fortnight ago. Ciaran Frawley makes a welcome return from injury to play at fullback and Jason Jenkins starts in the second row after making his own return from injury from the bench last time out.

Edinburgh have only won one of their last eight league games and that was a narrow win over Zebre so Leinster will be heavy favourites. But Edinburgh have been known to cause Leinster problems in the past with their style of play. But as long as Leinster show up without the complacency they showed against the Dragons last time out, they should secure their 19th straight win of the season.

by Jim O'Connor, © 2023-03-04