Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat has today named a 25-man squad for the pre-season game against Bath at the Recreation Ground on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm). The fixture, which sees the capital club’s preparations for the coming campaign go up another gear, will see as many as seven players formally involved in an Edinburgh line-up for the very first time.
Summer recruits Netani Talei, Jack Gilding, Lee Jones, James King, David Denton and Alex Blair will all make the trip south, with Alex Grove, the loan signing from Worcester Warriors, also finding space in the party. Roddy Grant, the recently-appointed captain, will skipper the side in a match where Chris Paterson is line to return to the fray for the first time since suffering damage to his kidney on the February afternoon he became the first Scot to win 100 caps.
Edinburgh go into the weekend encouraged by memories of the 9-6 victory they recorded the last time the two sides clashed, on Heineken Cup business at Murrayfield last December. The previous week, Bath won a close encounter 16-9 at the Recreation Ground, revenge for the 19-8 success Edinburgh recorded there when the clubs last met in a friendly back in 2008.
LISTEN TO ROB'S THOUGHTS ON THE BATH GAME ON BLACK AND RED RADIO BELOW
Moffat believes Saturday’s game will be a useful lead-in to the forthcoming resumption of competitive hostilities. He said: “We’ve picked a strong squad to go down to Bath, and we’re all looking forward to getting back out onto a rugby field and getting into our stride for the season ahead. Bath are right up there in terms of the challenge they will present, but we showed on each of the last two occasions we played there that we are more than capable of rising to that challenge.
“It will be good for the new guys to get a feel for what we’re about as a team, in a match environment. They’ve all fitted in well in pre-season, and it’s now about taking it to the next level and producing the goods in a game situation. Bath will be an excellent opportunity for us to work on patterns and understanding as well as fitness.
“Pre-season has gone really well, and it’s now a case of building and building so that we’re right on the money when the first Magners League game comes round at Cardiff (Saturday 4 September).”
The Bath game will see Edinburgh turn out in the new Macron-produced platinum change kit for the first time. The new home strip, featuring the distinctive ‘Triskell’ celtic design, will be showcased in the Murrayfield friendly against London Irish on Friday 27 August, kick-off 7.30pm
Edinburgh squad for pre-season friendly against Bath at the Recreation Ground (Saturday 21 August, kick-off 3.30pm)
BACKS
Tim Visser, Lee Jones, Chris Paterson, Andrew Turbull, Alex Grove, Ben Cairns, John Houston, James King, David Blair, Alex Blair, Mike Blair, Greig Laidlaw
FORWARDS
Allan Jacobsen, Kyle Traynor, Geoff Cross, Jack Gilding, Ross Ford, Andrew Kelly, Craig Hamilton, Steven Turbull, Fraser McKenzie, David Denton, Scott Newlands, Roddy Grant, Netani Talei
YOUR CITY, YOUR TEAM, YOUR FRIDAY NIGHT. Join Edinburgh's heroes as they take on the cream of European rugby in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. All our home pre-Christmas Magners League games are on a Friday night at 7.05pm. To secure your season tickets, including the fantastic Edinburgh Crew deal (which allows an adult and child to see all the Murrayfield action for just £200), CLICK HERE or call 0131 346 5180. Tickets for the London Irish game at Murrayfield on Friday 27 August (kick-off 7.30pm) are available from the same sources, priced £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and under-18s.
