RUGBY EUROPEAN CUP: Edinburgh v LeinsterMurrayfield - 1.35 BEFORE THE draw for this season's Heineken Cup, the one team Leinster would not have wanted was, bizarrely, from the fourth tier. Anybody but Edinburgh, writes Gerry Thornley
Ever since the fixtures were announced, just as curiously therefore, this opening away game in the competition has loomed as something of a make-or-break game for Leinster and little about the last two weeks would have dispelled that feeling.
One associates rugby's greatest club competition with jam-packed, compact arenas in Europe's many hotbeds - not a ground with scarcely one-sixth of its capacity, further removed from the action beyond an athletics track.
Though some 6,000 fans are expected, a relatively sombre Murrayfield at a sober 1.35pm does not cut it, and quite clearly it doesn't rock Leinster's boat either.
In eight visits to the Scottish capital, seven of them to Murrayfield, Leinster have lost all but one. This has included all three Heineken Cup sorties to this ground, and after successive Cup defeats here in the last two pool campaigns, Michael Cheika and his team are seeking to avert an unwanted tournament hat-trick as well as the rarity of a third successive defeat.
The 52-6 win over Edinburgh four games ago now seems a distant memory, and in light of those tryless defeats to Munster and Connacht, it is not surprising Cheika has made six changes and, specifically, moved Felipe Contepomi in to outhalf.
"It's something we've been considering for a while and it's something we've run with in training, so it's not as if it's new," said Cheika yesterday. "Also, Phil (Contepomi) has had plenty of experience of playing at outhalf. We think it gives us a good balance with a left-footer (Fitzgerald) in midfield and a left-footer on the wing (Robert Kearney)."
Leinster's defence, while magnificently resilient against the Ospreys and Munster, has realigned well and worked hard, but it's much higher on absorbing pressure than on making impact.
There's also a suspicion Mike Brewer is missed after his impressive work with the pack over the last three years. Most of all, their lack of precision and failure to retain ball in contact has further denied them continuity.
Devin Toner's form should mitigate the enforced absence of Malcolm O'Kelly, but with Seán O'Brien (back) also sidelined, Leinster need a big game from Shane Jennings. The return of Bernard Jackman and Jamie Heaslip can add oomph to a pack in which CJ van der Linde and Rocky Elsom should start really hitting their straps now.
"We will have to be very direct," says Cheika, perhaps revealing a change of tack from last season's trek here, when Leinster simply played too much ball behind their gain line.
Edinburgh will fancy their chances, but they have issues themselves, not least at the lineout and the breakdown.
Leinster can't lose their heads or become frustrated. Nothing less than a ferocious intensity for 80 minutes, especially in contact, coupled with playing plenty of territory, will suffice. One senses they will benefit from the lessons of history, both old and recent.
EDINBURGH:C Paterson; M Robertson, H Southwell, N De Luca, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross; M Mustchin, J Hamilton; S Newlands, A MacDonald, A Hogg. Replacements: A Kelly, G Kerr, B Gissing, C Hamilton, G Laidlaw, D Blair, J Houston.
LEINSTER:G Dempsey; S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll, R Kearney; F Contepomi, C Whitaker ; S Wright, B Jackman, CJ van der Linde; L Cullen (capt), D Toner; R Elsom, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: J Fogarty, C Healy, T Hogan, S Keogh, C Keane,: J Sexton, G Brown Referee: Rob Debney (RFU).
Previous meetings:(2000-01) Edinburgh 29 Leinster 21; Leinster 34 Edinburgh 34; (2006-07): Edinburgh 25 Leinster 24; Leinster 49 Edinburgh 10; (2007-08): Leinster 28 Edinburgh 14; Edinburgh 29 Leinster 10.
Results so far:Edinburgh - 15-20 v Munster (h); 6-52 v Leinster (a); 32-12 v Scarlets (h); 9-11 v Dragons (a); 9-13 v Ulster (a). Leinster - 16-16 v Cardiff (a); 52-6 v Edinburgh (h); 19-13 v Ospreys (h); 0-18 v Munster (h); 18-19 v Connacht (a).
Heineken Cup record:Edinburgh - one q/f (03-04). Leinster - three s/f (95-96, 02-03, 05-06), three q/f (01-02, 04-05, 06-07).
Betting(Paddy Power): 6/4 Edinburgh, 20/1 Draw, 8/15 Leinster. Handicap odds (= Edinburgh +5pts) 10/11 Edinburgh, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Leinster.
Forecast:Leinster to win.
