Edinburgh Hoping for Heineken Cup High

Its not been a great start to the season for the Capital’s rugby outfit. A poor run of away form has found them lying 11th in the RaboDirect Pro 12 the new name for the Celtic league competition. This poor form was compounded by a home loss to Leinster last Friday, but all hopes now turn to their next home match which signals the beginning of the Heineken cup campaign at Murrayfield. Edinburgh kick-off their Heineken Cup challenge against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, 12 November, bidding to reach the knock-out stages for only the second time and end a seven-year wait to make the last eight again.

It is the home support which Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley hopes will make all the difference, describing the crowd as “immense” it appears the new pitchside standing area at Murrayfield has made a real difference to the team. Supporters are now able to get as close to the action as physically possible, whilst still enjoying the amenities of the burger vans, which are now located within the stadium itself. The festival atmosphere is completed by the array of student ticket offers available, which has really bolstered the crowd numbers for recent matches.

For the team itself, indiscipline at crucial times has often cost them this season. Leinster’s Jonny Sexton kicked 23 points in their 36-28 win, and many of those penalties could have been avoided. Bradley agrees, but is remaining upbeat “There are a lot of positives in how our game is developing, but for it to change in terms of the results we are talking to the boys about accuracy and discipline.” The Heineken cup it seems provides the perfect fresh start for the team. The 18th of November brings the French side Racing Metro to Murrayfield and the mouth-watering clash should serve up a treat as Tim Visser Edinburgh’s Flying Dutchman takes on Mirco Bergamasco the Italian superstar on the wing. Visser’s performances this season have been typically superb. The soon to be Scotsman struck in each half against Leinster to take his career total to 29 tries, one more than wing colleague Simon Webster, while he now has five for the season to stand at the top of the current Celtic charts.

The re-introduction of the Scotland World Cup players has also provided fresh impetus and it will be the loose work of Hooker Ross Ford that will be relied upon. Ford showed his abilities with a timely break up the wing against Leinster but it was his impressive handling skills that stood out. Edinburgh will be hoping they can avenge their opening day loss to the Cardiff Blues when they welcome them to Murrayfield on the 16th of December. Bradley and the team will be eager to garner as much home support as possible to enable the Heineken Cup to be Edinburgh’s surprise Friday night hot spot.