| 11 internationals to start for Edinburgh against Connacht | |||||
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  Scottish International Phil Godman, in action here against Leinster in the Heineken Cup earlier in the season, starts for Edinburgh at outhalf on Friday night. Photo: INPHO Edinburgh will start tomorrow night's game with a strong side against Connacht, with a total of eleven Scottish internationals starting against the western province at the Sportsground, as they bid to win their first game in Galway in three seasons (kick off: 6.30pm). Head coach Andy Robinson has stuck with the starting line up which beat Castres last week in the Heineken Cup in the South of France and will be hoping for more of the same from his first 15. Of that side, eleven players have already represented Scotland at full international level: Chris Patterson, Ben Cairns, David Callam, Nick de Luca, Ross Ford, Phil Godman, Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton, Allister Hogg, Allan Jabobson and Simon Webster. In the previous two seasons this fixture has finished in a draw on both occasions, 14-14 last season and 22-22 the year before. As a result of a few injury concerns, Robinson has decided to take eleven replacements to Connacht, including Ross Rennie. The 22-year-old has not played a competitive match for seven months after suffering a serious knee injury - coincidentally against Connacht in March. Now the promising young openside says he is both delighted and relieved to be on the threshold of making his comeback for Edinburgh. Rennie said: "I'm very happy to be included in the traveling party and I'm just looking forward to playing some rugby again." Matt Mustchin and Hugo Southwell, who both missed last Saturday's Heineken Cup win at Castres, are also named amongst the list of potential replacements. Edinburgh team (v Connacht): 15 Chris Paterson 14 Mark Robertson 13 Ben Cairns 12 Nick De Luca 11 Simon Webster 10 Phil Godman 9 Mike Blair (captain) 1 Allan Jacobsen 2 Ross Ford 3 Geoff Cross 4 Craig Hamilton 5 Jim Hamilton 6 Scott Newlands 7 Alan MacDonald 8 Allister Hogg Substitutes (seven from 11 players that travel): Andrew Kelly, Gavin Kerr, Kyle Traynor, Matt Mustchin, Ben Gissing, Simon Cross, Ross Rennie, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Hugo Southwell, John Houston. |
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 October 2008 15:30 ) |  |
