Preview: Edinburgh v Scarlets
Mike Blair is one of three Scotland internationals who return to Edinburgh's starting XV for Friday's Magners League clash with the Scarlets.
Mike Blair is among three Scotland internationals who return to the Edinburgh starting line-up for the Magners League clash with Scarlets.
Blair will captain the side with Nick De Luca and Alan MacDonald also coming straight back in.
Ross Ford, Allan Jacobsen and Jim Hamilton, who also featured for Scotland during their Six Nations victory in Dublin, will begin the Murrayfield match on the bench.
“It is good to see our internationalists back available following that good win in Ireland,” said Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat.
“What we want to do between now and the end of the season is to keep everything as competitive as possible in our squad.
“With two players challenging for every spot, that is how we will get the most out of our season.
“The onus is on everybody to perform well – our progress so far this season has been a real squad effort.”
Jim Thompson has reclaimed the full-back slot after recovering from a knee injury, with Ben Cairns returning to outside centre.
Unsurprisingly, winger Tim Visser is promoted from the bench after scoring a five-minute hat-trick of tries against Ospreys.
Fly-half Phil Godman – an unused replacement for Scotland at Croke Park – will wear Edinburgh's number 10 jersey for the first time since late January.
Flanker Scott Newlands has recovered from an eye injury to take his place on the bench alongside David Blair, who was taken off with a head knock against Ospreys.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets have opted to rest two internationals in the shape of fly-half Stephen Jones and wing Sean Lamont after their heavy Six Nations campaigns with Wales and Scotland respectively.
“Unless you've played at that level, it is difficult to appreciate fully the level of pressure and intensity that international players come under, mentally as much as physically,” said Head Coach Nigel Davies.
“We have an important run of games now and it is important that both Stephen and Sean have a week completely away from rugby – it will be in their best interests and ours in the medium term with the amount of games we have coming up, that they freshen up before the challenges ahead.”
Wales hooker Matthew Rees, who was out injured during part of the Six Nations campaign, will however travel to Edinburgh and is on the bench for Friday's clash. Two other Wales internationals, centre Jon Davies and hooker Ken Owens both start the game.
Form: Edinburgh's only defeat to Scarlets in their last five meetings was 6-13 at Parc y Scarlets on 8 March 2009, whilst Scarlets have never won on Edinburgh soil. Edinburgh have won their last three matches at Murrayfield in all competitions since Glasgow Warriors victory there, 22-15 on 2 January. Edinburgh have won their last three games against Welsh opponents. Scarlets only victory in their last four games was 25-8 at home to Ulster in March. The Welshmen have won just one game against a Scottish team since February 2008.
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Jim Thompson, 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (captain), 8 Roddy Grant, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alan MacDonald, 5 Steve Turnbull, 4 Scott MacLeod, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Andrew Kelly, 1 Kyle Traynor.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Allan Jacobsen, 18 Jim Hamilton, 19 Scott Newlands, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 John Houston.
Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Lee Williams, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons (capt), 7 Richie Pugh, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Damian Welch, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Deacon Manu, 17 Matthew Rees, 18 Lou Reed 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Daniel Newton, 22 Gareth Maule.
Date: Friday, 26 March
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Iain Heard (Scotland), Graeme Marshall (Scotland)