Weakened Munster have their work cut out

TWO COACHES who will come under close if differing scrutiny this season kick off a new campaign at a cavernous Murrayfield in starkly contrasting fashion. Michael Bradley, having raised expectations by guiding Edinburgh to a first Heineken Cup semi-final last season, will be mindful of the need to significantly improve the region’s worst ever finish (11th) in the league, and the expectancy begins with this Euro rehearsal.

Whereas Rob Penney makes just three changes from the 34-10 defeat at home to London Irish last week in the continuing absence of Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ronan O’Gara, Keith Earls and Simon Zebo, Bradley welcomes back nine players from Scotland’s tour of Australia.

Thus, despite last week’s embarrassing 54-3 defeat at home to Northampton, Bradley was bullish on the eve of facing his native province. “We have virtually all of our players available for selection and have completed a strong summer of pre-season training, with the time to perform when it matters now upon us. We want to make a statement of intent in the RaboDirect Pro12, as a team and as a club, and want to kick that off with a win at home and give our fans something to shout about.”

Amongst Bradley’s ten changes, his selection features five players making their competitive debuts for Edinburgh, namely fullback Greig Tonks, centre Ben Atiga, Wales scrumhalf Richie Rees, compatriot John Yapp and the ex-Cheetahs’ tighthead Willem Nel.

Edinburgh have only won five of the sides’ last 21 meetings but did beat Munster 29-14 the last time they met in not dissimilar circumstances and hence the home side must see this as a gilt-edged opportunity.

EDINBURGH: G Tonks; L Jones, N De Luca, B Atiga, T Visser; G Laidlaw, R Rees; J Yapp, R Ford, W Nel; G Gilchrist, S Cox; D Denton, R Rennie, S McInally. Replacements: A Titterrell, A Jacobsen, G Cross, P Parker, D Basilaia, C Leck, G Hunter, J Houston.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, C Laulala, J Downey, L O’Dea; I Keatley, D Williams; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan, B Holland; P Butler, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, S Archer, D Foley, B O’Mahony, P Stringer, S Deasy, I Dineen.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU).

Forecast: Edinburgh to win.