Edinburgh return to the scene of one of the best results in the club’s history on Saturday, with head coach Rob Moffat urging his players to call on the spirit of the 13-6 win over Castres in October 2008 and reignite their Heineken Cup Pool 1 campaign.
Moffat was Andy Robinson’s assistant when Edinburgh last travelled to the Stade Pierre Antoine and watched as the team breathed new life into their European season after an opening day defeat to Leinster.
This time round, the circumstances are similar, with the capital club having been edged out by Cardiff Blues and Northampton Saints in their opening two group fixtures. Moffat has, therefore, demanded a repeat performance in the Midi-Pyrénées come Saturday night.
He told www.edinburghrugby.org: “It’s great to be going to a really tough place like Castres knowing with absolute certainty that we’re capable of winning there.
“The performance in 2008 was really satisyfing, and we can take a lot from it because all the same elements will be required this weekend. Back then, we dug deep, managed to hang tough when the pressure was on, and came away with the win.
“We’ll need that same spirit, determination and nerve on Saturday to manage the same sort of result. We’re desperate to land the win and get a bit of momentum back into our Heineken Cup campaign, especially with the incentive of a home game next weekend [also against Castres] where we could really push on.”
The Edinburgh starting line-up for Saturday’s game features eight men who contributed to the historic success in 2008. Chris Paterson, Ben Cairns and Scott Newlands and the front row trio of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross all ran out at the Stade Pierre Antoine two years ago, while David Blair and John Houston came off the bench.
Greig Laidlaw, a starter at scrum-half this weekend, was a substitute back then, as was hooker Andrew Kelly, who has once more been named among the replacements on this occasion.
Overall, the Edinburgh side shows eight changes from that which lost to Ospreys in the Magners League at Liberty Stadium last Saturday. Cairns and Houston return in the centres at the expense of Alex Grove and David Bishop, while Jacobsen and Ford come in for Kye Traynor and Kelly respectively, Steven Turnbull makes his first start of the season in the second row, and Newlands replaces Netani Talei at blindside flanker.
Laidlaw steps in for Mike Blair, who has sustained an elbow injury and will be subject to further assessment. Lee Jones will make his first Heineken Cup appearance on the wing, with Tim Visser suffering from a stomach bug and thus being unavailable for selection.
There is a spot on the bench for Simon Webster, who has not featured for Edinburgh since April because of an Achilles injury.
Moffat continued: “It will be a huge challenge for everyone that we send out this weekend, but we’re happy with the make-up of the side and the level of experience that’s in there.
“It’s great that Chris Paterson is back and raring to go after having to come off last week with a dead leg, and it’s also been really pleasing to see Chunk [Jacobsen] and Fordy refreshed and chomping at the bit after all their efforts with Scotland in the November internationals.
“It’s a really strong front row, the same one that served us well over there last time, and we’ll be looking to these guys again to give us a solid platform. Steven Turnbull hasn’t had much luck with injury this season but he’s another one who deserves his chance, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he and Fraser go as a pair.
“Seeing Webbo back in the picture is also a boost for us: he’s a popular member of the squad and a real asset to the team. It will take him a bit of time to get back up to speed, but we’re delighted to have him back and available.
“When you go to France, it’s all about a 15-man effort; everyone playing to the best of their ability and showing mental strength. Castres have a fantastic record at home this season, so we go there as underdogs, but everyone in our camp is fully focussed on securing the win.”
EDINBURGH TEAM FOR HEINEKEN CUP MATCH AGAINST CASTRES AT STADE PIERRE ANTOINE ON SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER (KICK-OFF 6.45PM, (5.45PM UK TIME), LIVE ON SKY SPORTS VIA RED BUTTON)
15 Chris Paterson
14 Jim Thompson
13 Ben Cairns
12 John Houston
11 Lee Jones
10 David Blair
9 Greig Laidlaw
1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Fraser McKenzie
5 Steven Turnbull
6 Scott Newlands
8 Roddy Grant (captain)
7 Ross Rennie
SUBSTITUTES
16 Andrew Kelly
17 Kyle Traynor
18 David Young
19 Esteban Lozada
20 Alan MacDonald
21 James King
22 Alex Grove
23 Simon Wesbter
