Club centurion Jamie Ritchie returns to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final clash against Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (kick-off 12.30pm BST / 1.30pm local) – live on Premier Sports.
Ritchie’s inclusion is the only chage to the starting side that defeated Ulster to clinch Edinburgh’s playoff berth a fortnight ago. He starts at blindside flanker as Ben Muncaster shifts to the bench.
Saturday marks the third clash between the two teams this season, with both games decided by less than a converted try.
Bulls narrowly edged out Edinburgh 22-16 at Loftus in Round 2 of the Championship in September, however Sean Everitt’s side struck back in last month’s EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Final, winning 34-28 at Hive Stadium.
Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “We know the Bulls are always a massive physical threat, especially here at Loftus. To compete, and to win, we will need to be at our absolute very best. That means bringing passion and intensity, but crucially, it also demands composure and clinical discipline for the full 80 minutes.
“We’ve been building momentum steadily throughout the season, and the players have worked incredibly hard to put ourselves in this position. There’s a real belief and confidence within the squad right now, and we’re in a good spot mentally and physically to tackle this challenge head-on.
“Winning a URC knockout match on the road would be a significant achievement for this club. It’s something we’ve been working towards, and the opportunity to make history is a powerful driver for us. We’ve got a fantastic group of players who are hungry for success, and we’re determined to put in a performance that reflects the ambition of Edinburgh Rugby.”
The capital backline is unchanged, with Wes Goosen starting at full-back alongside Scotland wing duo Darcy Graham and Harry Paterson in the back-three.
May’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Month James Lang starts at inside-centre alongside Matt Currie in the midfield, with Ross Thompson and Ali Price forming a familiar partnership at fly-half and scrum-half respectively.
Pierre Schoeman returns to face his former club at loosehead, with Ewan Ashman (hooker) and D’arcy Rae (tighthead) forming the front row.
At lock, Marshall Sykes and Sam Skinner start together for the third week in a row, as club co-captain Grant Gilchrist remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
In the back row, Ritchie is joined by fellow club centurions Hamish Watson (openside flanker) and captain Magnus Bradbury (number eight).
The bench offers potential opportunities for two exciting prospects: academy scrum-half Conor McAlpine, 21, and 20-year-old back-row Liam McConnell. They step in as Charlie Shiel misses out with injury (kidney), while Glen Young has not made the trip to Pretoria after the recent birth of his child.
Scotland international winger Duhan van der Merwe travelled with the squad to South Africa but remains sidelined from the matchday 23, having just returned to full training.
Everitt added: “Duhan [van der Merwe] has been back training with us here in Pretoria this week, and he’s feeling good. However, he’s probably still a few days away from being ready to return to full match action. We’re managing his return carefully to ensure he’s fully prepared when he does step back onto the field.”
Edinburgh Rugby team to face Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final Saturday 31 May (kick-off 12.30pm BST/ 1.30pm local)– live on Premier Sports
15. Wes Goosen (54)
14. Darcy Graham (82)
13. Matt Currie (63)
12. James Lang (74)
11. Harry Paterson (16)
10. Ross Thompson (25)
9. Ali Price (40)
1. Pierre Schoeman (133)
2. Ewan Ashman (37)
3. D’arcy Rae (26)
4. Marshall Sykes (83)
5. Sam Skinner (43)
6. Jamie Ritchie (129)
7. Hamish Watson (178)
8. Magnus Bradbury (133) CAPTAIN
Replacements
16. Paddy Harrison (32)
17. Boan Venter (90)
18. Javan Sebastian (29)
19. Liam McConnell (3)
20. Ben Muncaster (47)
21. Conor McAlpine (1)
22. Ben Healy (38)
23. Mark Bennett (111)
Unavailable: Emiliano Boffelli (hamstring), Connor Boyle (knee), Robert Carmichael (wrist), Dave Cherry (knee), Luke Crosbie (pec), Grant Gilchrist (hamstring), Jamie Hodgson (tricep), Paul Hill (back), Duhan van der Merwe (ankle), Charlie Shiel (kidney), Mosese Tuipulotu (knee), Ben Vellacott (foot), Glen Young (personal).
Wildcat Talent
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina have never scored an ODI ton outside of Asia.
dark matter
The fastest cricket pitch ever recorded was thrown by Shoaib Akhtar during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He clocked in at 100.23 mph (161.3 km/h) during a match with England. Akhtar’s feat made him the first cricket bowler to reach 100 mph and he did this twice during his storied career. He earned the nickname “The Rawalpindi Express” for his impressive pitches.