'Pau will be a huge test for us but it's a challenge I know our guys are up for'
Mike Blair has backed his much-changed Edinburgh side to rise to the challenge as they bid to beat Pau on Friday and secure a home tie in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.
The Scots know victory over their French visitors at DAM Health Stadium will seal top spot in their section. Blair has made nine alterations to the side that defeated Lions in Johannesburg last weekend.
“Pau will be a huge test for us but it’s a challenge I know our guys are up for,” the head coach told Edinburgh’s website. “They can’t wait to get back out there under the Friday night lights after a really positive two-week tour in South Africa.
“We make a number of changes to the starting line-up, partly to keep things fresh after a long flight home, but also because guys deserve their opportunity after training incredibly hard and impressing over the last few weeks.
“We love playing at DAM Health Stadium and it’s going to be brilliant to be back in front of our supporters once again. They bring an added energy on match night which has so often made the difference this season.”
Ramiro Moyano, Luan de Bruin, Marshall Sykes, Glen Young and Connor Boyle are among those added to the starting XV.
EDINBURGH:
15. Henry Immelman
14. Darcy Graham
13. Matt Currie
12. Cammy Hutchison
11. Ramiro Moyano
10. Jaco van der Walt
9. Henry Pyrgos
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Stuart McInally
3. Luan de Bruin
4. Grant Gilchrist
5. Marshall Sykes
6. Glen Young
7. Connor Boyle
8. Magnus Bradbury
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Adam McBurney (8)
17. Boan Venter (24)
18. WP Nel (166)
19. Jamie Hodgson (35)
20. Pierce Phillips (9)
21. Charlie Shiel (43)
22. Charlie Savala (10)
23. Chris Dean (116)
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To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
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