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A sample of the video evidence used in the discipline hearing following the citing of Stade Francais's Juan Cruz Guillemain - 17/01/2013 11:39
Edinburgh must win this match to keep within touching distance of the Pool leaders.
A narrow defeat to Agen in Round 1 will have given them hope that they can compete against the best. And they are facing one of the very best sides in Europe, who – on their day – can tear any side to shreds.
Last weekend the Dubliner’s demolished Gloucester, and will fancy themselves to have the skills to do the same in the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh command Murrayfield stadium for the match, and will need their fans to form a 16th man if they are to come away with this match with points.
The Leinster team has been named by coach Micheal Cheika.
Girvan Dempsey will make his 50th Heineken Cup appearance for the province and the Ireland international is named in a backline that includes Shane Horgan, Felipe Contepomi and Gordon D’Arcy who – along with Stephen Keogh – all scored tries last weekend.
Chris Whitaker is included in the panel and will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness. A decision will be made closer to kick off.
There are no changes to the pack but Cameron Jowitt returns to the replacements bench.
Chris Paterson returns to lead Edinburgh in their second round Heineken Cup match at Murrayfield. The captain missed last week’s opening match against Agen, after injuring his knee in the victory over Munster at Thomond Park the previous week.
With Paterson back, Ben Cairns moves to the bench in place of Mike Pyke. Alasdair Dickinson comes into the front row replacing Craig Smith who has also been named in the replacements, as has apprentice player Steven Turnbull.
Assistant Coach Rob Moffat said: “It is good to have Chris back as he is such a positive person, not just on the field but off it too, and influences those around him. Alasdair played well when he came on last week and showed what he’s good at, both in the scrum and in the loose.
“This will be a different game to Agen and the pace will be quicker with a more frenetic start. Leinster play the same kind of positive game as Edinburgh. They’re exciting, as they showed last week against Gloucester, with players that can punish you. The game should be a cracker.”
Unavailable due to injury: Allister Hogg (elbow), Simon Taylor (knee).
- 26/09/1998 14:30
Duncan Hodge did what he dies so well at Murrayfield – dropped kicked his side to victory – to dent Leinster’s hopes of making it two from two in Pool 2 .
The man who once dropped kicked England to defeat at the home of Scottish rugby came on after 55 minutes to help guide Edinburgh through a frantic final quarter.
The outside half was brought into match winning action three minutes from time after Leinster had conjured up their third try of the afternoon to regain the lead for the third time in the game.
Full back Girvan Dempesy’s second try on his 50th Heineken Cup appearance seemed to have won the game for the Irishmen as Felipi Contepomi’s third conversion put his side two points ahead at 24-22 with seven minutes remaining.
But the stubborn Scots refused to give in and worked their way into the Leinster 22. Mike Blair fed Hodge and from 30m out he won the game with a trademark kick.
That drop goal ensured Edinburgh didn’t suffer a second successive week of Heineken Cup failure. Having gone down to an agonising injury time defeat in Agen the previous weekend they knew their chances of quarter-final qualification would have gone had they lost again.
Now they are back in the chase of table topping Agen.
An enthralling first half saw four Chris Paterson penalties give the home side the edge over Dempsey’s first try and five points from the boot of Contepomi.
The Irishmen regained the lead in controversial circumstances seven minutes after the break when replacement wing Luke FitzGerald raced the length of the 22 after receiving what everyone in the record breaking crowd of 5867 thought was a forward pass.
Leinster rode their luck and Contepomi’s touchline conversion added insult to injury. Edinburgh’s response was emphatic enough as they worked their way into the Leinster 22.
From a close range scrum they gave centre Dewey the chance to run straight and hard and after French referee Joel Jutge had consulted the video ref the try was awarded and Paterson’s conversion put the home side ahead by two points with 15 minutes to go.
Paterson’s fifth successive penalty extended the lead a few minutes later, but then came Dempsey’s second try and the prospect of another last -gasp defeat for the home side.
Then cometh the hour, cometh the man. Hodge stepped up to the mark and kicked his side to glory.
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