Edinburgh v London Irish: Challenge Cup preview
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 17/12/15 2:09pm
Tom Coventry says London Irish are relishing the challenge of facing Edinburgh at Murrayfield in Friday's Challenge Cup return fixture.
The Exiles ran in six tries during last Saturday's 38-6 success over the Scots in Reading and a second victory in seven days will set up a Pool 5 decider with Grenoble in January.
"We know it is going to be tough going up to Murrayfield but we also know how big the win would be in terms of trying to qualify from the group," said Irish head coach Coventry.
Coventry hands Nic Rouse his first appearance of the season as Irish attempt to win back-to-back fixtures in the Challenge Cup since 2008.
Rouse partners Eoin Sheriff in the second row after recovering from injury and is one of five changes to the starting line-up.
We played poorly last week and need to put matters right this weekend.
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons
Blair Cowan starts at openside flanker and Darren Allinson replaces Brendan McKibbin at scrum-half, while Leo Halavatu will make his 100th appearance for Irish if introduced from the bench.
Edinburgh, who trail pool leaders Irish by three points, make 10 changes to the team that was thumped at the Madejski Stadium.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Phil Burleigh come in at half-back while John Hardie will compete with Scotland team-mate Cowan at the breakdown after being named at openside.
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons said: "We played poorly last week and need to put matters right this weekend."
Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Michael Allen, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Ross Ford, 3 WP Nel, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Alex Toolis, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 John Hardie, 8 Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Jamie Ritchie, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Andries Strauss, 23 Jack Cuthbert.
London Irish: 15 Topsy Ojo, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Tom Fowlie, 12Johnny Williams, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Shane Geraghty (c), 9 Darren Allinson; 1 Tom Court, 2 Gerard Ellis, 3 Ben Franks, 4 Eoin Sheriff, 5 Nic Rouse, 6 Blair Cowan, 7 Conor Gilsenan, 8 Ofisa Treviranus.
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Tom Smallbone, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 David Sisi, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Chris Noakes, 23 Fergus Mulchrone.