The Edinburgh squad will gather for a final training run at Murrayfield on Friday afternoon before flying to Wales for the opening Magners League game against Cardiff Blues tomorrow (kick-off 6.30pm).
Rob Moffat’s side go into the match boosted by the knowledge that they have won on each of their last three trips to the Welsh capital, and buoyed by memories of the two victories they recorded against the same opposition in last year’s competition. Precisely 12 months ago, Edinburgh spoiled the housewarming party at the Cardiff City Stadium by winning the first match to be played at the Blues’ new home.
The 22-21 success owed much to a fast start, Alan MacDonald and Tim Visser contributing tries inside the first quarter. A further score from Chris Paterson just after the interval provided breathing space, and, despite a late Gareth Thomas touchdown, Edinburgh held on to register a fantastic beginning to the campaign.
The next time the teams squared up, on an arctic night at Murrayfield back in January, tries from Ross Rennie and Jim Thompson saw Edinburgh home 21-12.
The capital club’s recent record against Cardiff makes for pleasurable reading. In season 2008/09, Edinburgh emerged victorious from both meetings, winning 16-3 at Murrayfield and 36-14 at the Arms Park. This latter game was Cardiff’s farewell to the famous old ground – fingers crossed that Edinburgh prove troublesome house guests once more this weekend. The sides also clash in the opening round of Heineken Cup pool fixtures, at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 9 October.
Phil Godman will make his 100th Magners League appearance for Edinburgh tomorrow night, coming up against Dan Parks, his Scotland colleague, who joined the Blues from Glasgow Warriors in the summer.
The game is to be shown live on S4C. Viewers in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland will find the channel on Sky 134 and Freesat 120. In Wales, the coverage is on Sky 104, Freeview 4, Virgin 167, Freesat 104.
LAST SIX CLASHES
9 Jan 2010 Edinburgh 21 Cardiff Blues 12
4 Sep 2009 Cardiff Blues 21 Edinburgh 22
17 May 2009 Cardiff Blues 14 Edinburgh 36
3 April 2009 Edinburgh 16 Cardiff Blues 3
28 Mar 2008 Edinburgh 0 Cardiff Blues 20
4 Jan 2008 Cardiff Blues 10 Edinburgh 11
TEAMS
Cardiff Blues: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, T Shanklin, T James; D Parks, R Rees; G Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, S Andrews, B Davies, P Tito (captain), M Molitika, M Williams, X Rush
Replacements: S Hobbs, R Williams, T Davies, D Jones, S Warburton, L Williams, C Sweeney, B Blair
Edinburgh: C Paterson; L Jones, B Cairns, A Grove, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, F McKenzie, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant (captain), N Talei
Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, J Gilding, C Hamilton, S Newlands, G Laidlaw, D Blair, J Houston
Ref: P Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
Assistants: P Fear, C Kirkhouse (both WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
