if you buy ticket for the match, you can sit ANYWHERE in the lower tier?

usually the sections of the lower tier on the half way line are reserved for season ticket holders but the rest of the lower tier is unreserved seating - it's only the stand opposite the dugouts that'll be open. They'll have pitchside standing - you can stand behind the goals and the length of the pitch behind the dugouts, the viewing angle is a little worse but you see a lot more up close, and you can stand within about 3 feet of the dug out

This was how it was the last few seasons, haven't seen any indication things will be different this year.

Also, if you buy your ticket today it'll be £20 but if you buy it on the day it's £25

As Edinburgh prepare to run out for the first time on to the new hybrid surface at BT Murrayfield, there are just two changes to the starting XV who overcame Munster, 14-13, in the Guinness PRO12 opener at Thomond Park last Friday night.

Sam Beard moves from centre to right wing while Nick McLennan graduates from the bench to partner him on the left wing.

Meanwhile lock Anton Bresler, scrum half Grayson Hart and centre Joaquin Dominguez come on to the bench.

Head coach Alan Solomons is under no illusions of the task in hand on Friday evening (12 September, kick-off 7.35pm), while underlining the importance of backing up last weekend's performance.

He said: "I've got a lot of respect for Connacht and we know we're going to have to deliver a really good performance.

"Unfortunately neither Tim Visser nor Dougie Fife are available this week but on the positive side, it's good that Anton Bresler has a chance to come off the bench.


"Mike [Coman] took a knock in the game against Munster and wasn't able to train until Thursday so it's prudent that he starts off the bench.”

Prop Alasdair Dickinson, who celebrates his 31st birthday today [11 September] and retains his place in the starting side, while encouraged by last weekend's win is fully focused on Friday.

He said: "It was an awesome feeling as it's a tough place to win but we have to put it behind us.


"It's been a tough pre-season but the boys are in incredible shape and we proved that last weekend. The performance was a credit to the staff.”

Dickinson is steeling himself for an equally tough encounter come 7.35pm on Friday.

"Connacht are notoriously hard to beat, incredibly physical and never give up. It's our first game of the season at home, we're all looking forward to it and ready for the challenge.”

Moving onto the wing from last weekend's centre spot, Sam Beard is eager to run out in front of the home support this Friday.

He said: "Last week's win has given us a boost going into this match – we really appreciate the home support and are hoping to get a good crowd tomorrow night.”

Tickets are available to purchase in advance (£20 adult, £10 concessions) or on the night (£25 adult, £10 concessions) while a variety of Season Pass options are available [ www.edinburghrugby.org/book-tickets/season-tickets ]

Edinburgh Rugby team v Connact, Friday 12 September, BT Murrayfield, kick-off 7.35pm

15 Jack Cuthbert

14 Sam Beard
13 Phil Burleigh
12 Andries Strauss
11 Nick McLennan

10 Tom Heathcote
9 Sean Kennedy

1 Alasdair Dickinson
2 Ross Ford (Captain)
3 John Andress
4 Fraser McKenzie
5 Ollie Atkins
6 Tomas Leonardi
7 Hamish Watson
8 Cornell Du Preez

Substitutes
16 James Hilterbrand
17 Rory Sutherland
18 W P Nel
19 Anton Bresler
20 Mike Coman
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Grayson Hart
23 Joaquin Dominguez

Where to watch

Edinburgh Rugby centre, Matt Scott, will be providing match analysis, alongside commentator Hugh Dan MacLennan, for Friday's opening season home fixture against Connacht. The match will be shown live on BBC Alba (from 7.30pm) with the game repeated on Saturday (13 September) at 11pm.

Alternative commentary is available via the red button for this live coverage. Viewers watching via a Virgin TiVo box should press the info button and navigate to the 'alternative commentary' button.

Sky Sports will be showing highlights of the match via their online digital platform early next week. Highlights from all matches televised by Sky will be available on Sunday nights while highlights from their non-televised matches will be published online shortly thereafter.

Notes to Editors

During last Friday night's win over Munster, wingers Tim Visser suffered a dead leg and Dougie Fife took a knock to the knee. Full back Greig Tonks sustained a groin injury during the captain's run prior to the team setting off for Ireland. All are being monitored by the medical team this week.

Meanwhile Grant Gilchrist – the eight-times capped Scotland lock – returned from captaining his country on the summer tour with an ankle complaint that did not sufficiently recover following a period of rehabilitation. The player had a 'clean up' operation on the injury last month and is expected to return to rugby by the end of the month.

Back-row Roddy Grant, who sustained a shoulder injury in the club's 11-10 pre-season defeat to Leicester Tigers, is expected to return within the next fortnight, while hooker Stuart McInally is currently rehabilitating an ongoing ankle complaint. Schoolboy signing, back row Jamie Ritchie, is being treated for a shoulder knock, centre Michael Tait is rehabbing a knee injury and winger Damien Hoyland is being monitored after a calf strain.

Hooker George Turner continues his recovery from concussion while lock Alex Toolis is being monitored following a knee injury last month.

Jamie Farndale's training session knee injury last month required an operation, with the player's rehabilitation period expected to be around six months.

International back row and centre pair, David Denton and Matt Scott, continue their longer-term recovery as scheduled.

swift4prez wrote: I
anyone know anything about this ref????

Only previous game was Zebre 15 Cardiff 10 on March 1 last.

Binned both blindside flankers in separate incidents, Cardiff had a last minute try to win the game ruled out after consultation with the TMO.

He's also reffed U20 six nations, became a full time IRFU referee as of this summer.

Strong team, that backline looks a lot more dangerous. We'll miss Heenan's workrate, but hopefully Faloon can recapture his form from 2 seasons ago. Hopefully Ronaldson will make a good impact off the bench too.

if you can't get the red button i suppose you could always sync galway bay fm wiht you telly!

Rob Murphy will be in attendance LIVE at The Dail, so that shouldn't be a problem!

Its the same team i would of gone with. Steady enough, we really do have a 50/50 chance of winning this. We were alot better than dragons, edinburgh bet munster (just about) although you cant argue that edinburgh were the best team. some munster players are lucky they are playing for the province. there level is the english championship.
Anyone see the new pitch in murrayfield? looks great. as usual the dead ball area is about 15-20metres long. plenty of space for carty to bomb balls in for henshaw and poolman. also a hell of an area to kick forward the ball for Niyi to race into. that has to be tried a few times.
anyone know anything about this ref????

GTTC wrote: Yeah, I am going. Landing around 16.30. Drop my bag in a mates then head murrayfield direction.

Any good bars near the ground?

im going, sister who's in edinburgh going too. Moremiles will be there and was talking to a connacht fan on twitter who is also going.
name a pub and i'll be there! I'll send GTTC and Rex my number in private message so we can all meet up pre match. the more the better. if you buy ticket for the match, you can sit ANYWHERE in the lower tier?

GTTC wrote: Yeah, I am going. Landing around 16.30. Drop my bag in a mates then head murrayfield direction.

Any good bars near the ground?

there's a few - the roseburn and the murrayfield bar are the town-side of murrayfield, and there's a couple of pubs the airport side. depends on where you're staying, but there's always a decent crowd in the roseburn - plenty of space, tvs, good pints, usually a pub dog - everything you want in a pub!

By the way, not sure if you get the red button option on irish tv, but BBC Alba are meant to be bringing in english commentary. It didn't work for the munster-edinburgh game but they said it should work for the connacht game. if you can't get the red button i suppose you could always sync galway bay fm wiht you telly!

Team looks well tasty, I just hope that Muldoon and McKeon are genuinely fit enough to play a full 80 if needed. Good to see Ronaldson is back hope he is in good form, same for Muldowney, both will have to hit the ground running.

Connacht team to face Edinburgh
11th September 2014

Ahead of Connacht Rugby’s round 2 GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Edinburgh Rugby, Head Coach Pat Lam has made three personnel and one positional change from the side that defeated Dragons 16 – 11 last weekend.

Ireland internationals Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion both come into the starting line-up for the Friday night fixture at BT Murrayfield, kick off 7:35pm.

There is a slight reshuffle to the young back line – average age of 22.5 years – as Henshaw takes the number 13 shirt, shifting Darragh Leader to his preferred position of fullback. Ian Porter, who made his Connacht debut at the Sportsground last week, makes way for Marmion who partners Jack Carty at half back.

Up front, Willie Faloon is the only change to the pack coming in at openside flanker to a back row with captain John Muldoon and last week’s try scorer Eoin McKeon.

Aly Muldowney, Craig Ronaldson and Fionn Carr all come on to the bench for tomorrow’s game in the Scottish capital.

Commenting on team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“It’s great to have the experience of both Robbie (Henshaw) and Kieran (Marmion) in the starting XV this week. They are both itching to get back into the Connacht shirt and are great additions to our already young and energetic back line.

“While it’s disappointing to be without Jake (Heenan) this week, we are fortunate that Willie (Faloon) can step straight into the Number 7 shirt and do a great job.

“We were pleased with the outcome of last week’s game but we all knew we had a lot of work to do during the week to improve certain areas of our game that let us down. It’s been a quick turnaround for us, leaving on Thursday for Edinburgh, but we know we all have to be on the same page to nail the process that is needed to defeat a very strong Edinburgh team at home especially after their great win over Munster last week.”

Connacht line-up v Edinburgh

15. Darragh Leader
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Dave McSharry
11. Danie Poolman
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Nathan White
4. Mick Kearney
5. Quinn Roux
6. John Muldoon ©
7. Willie Faloon
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Sean Henry
17. Finlay Bealham
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Aly Muldowney
20. George Naoupu
21. Ian Porter
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Fionn Carr

Unavailable / Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Tom McCartney, Andrew Browne, Jake Heenan, Mata Fifita, Bundee Aki, Mils Muliaina, Tiernan O’Halloran, Matt Healy

Edinburgh v Connacht
At BT Murrayfield, 7:35pm
Live on BBCAlba / TG4
Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU, 2nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Lloyd Linton, Graeme Marshall (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Rob Flockhart (SRU)
TMO: David Changleng (SRU)

Yeah, I am going. Landing around 16.30. Drop my bag in a mates then head murrayfield direction.

Any good bars near the ground?

Edinburgh signed a load of guys the season of/just after their run to the Hcup semis, most of whom didn't feature at all so it's not too much of a surprise they've had a clear out. They looked a different team against munster compared to the last 2/3 seasons but new manager, a big clear out and some new faces they pretty much are a new team. Seem to be a bit more creative and happier to pass or run with the ball rather than their usual kicking.

Think Connacht are in for tough game tomorrow, should be good though

anyone else here going? i live around the corner from murrayfield so i'll wander down for a look

phatguerilla wrote: There's far more outs for Edinburgh than I had realized and not nearly as many ins, that might leave them in trouble later in the season? The most important change is Laidlaw is gone, he was their captain and main playmaker that won't be an easy gap to fill. If Connacht are able to put out a fullish team with marmion and henshaw back as connachta suggested then I'd be reasonably confident about this fixture.

Most important change could be the new Murrayfield pitch surface....

There's far more outs for Edinburgh than I had realized and not nearly as many ins, that might leave them in trouble later in the season? The most important change is Laidlaw is gone, he was their captain and main playmaker that won't be an easy gap to fill. If Connacht are able to put out a fullish team with marmion and henshaw back as connachta suggested then I'd be reasonably confident about this fixture.

Looking back on some past results we have had some horror shows over there. The regular away hammerings of the Bradley era appeared to be particularly bad there. Improved from then on but back to the old ways last year. Anyway all that is history, a lot of this team won there 2 years ago so hopefully they'll be looking to repeat that rather than last year's nightmare.

It'll be about 5% full as usual but its still a great venue to play in.

Ok factfile above, in case we get in any trouble the player ins and outs are taken from wikipedia!

Some of the stats are just a bit of rough work so open to correction if any of them are wrong but think they are right!

Edinburgh v Connacht – Murrayfield Guinness Pro 12 Round 2
Friday 12th September 2014 Kick Off 19:35 On TV: BBC Alba / TG4

Connacht return to the scene of one of their lowest points of last season on Friday night when they face Edinburgh at Murrayfield. 9 days prior to their famous win away to Toulouse, Connacht lost 43-10 at the Scottish venue. Both sides will enter this game in confident mood having recorded victories in Round 1. Edinburgh's 14-13 win away to Munster has raised expectations that Edinburgh can enjoy a productive season in Alan Solomons second season in charge.

Other Match Stats
Edinburgh's win over Munster was their first Pro 12 win since April 3rd
Edinburgh have won 13 of the 23 League Meetings between the sides with 2 draws.
Since 2009/10 each side have won 1 and lost 1 in the head to head meetings.
In the corresponding fixtures over the last 9 seasons Connacht have conceded an average of 36 points per game!
Connacht's only double over Edinburgh came in the 2003/2004 season
Connacht have won away to Edinburgh 3 times (2003/2004 (Meadowlands), 2004/2005, 2012/2013)
Connacht have secured 4 try bonus points on 2 occasions away to Edinburgh, 32-17 win in 2003/04 & 49-31 defeat in 2006/07.
In Round 2 of the league Connacht have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 8 in their previous 13 campaigns
Edinburgh have met Connacht twice at home in Round 2 of the league, a 34-3 win in September 05 and a 62-13 win in September 09.

Edinburgh Stats
Website: www.edinburghrugby.org/
Founded: 1970
Ground: BT Murrayfield Stadium
Capacity: 67,144
Captain: Mike Coman
Coaches: Alan Solomons

Rabo Direct Pro 12 League Position 2013/14: 8th Played 22 Points 38
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 6 Points 12

Previous Fixtures
Leinster 15-13 Edinburgh (Pro 12 Round 22 2013/14)
Edinburgh 10-11 Leicester (Friendly)
Newcastle Falcons 15-21 Edinburgh (Friendly)
Munster 13-14 Edinburgh (Pro 12 Round 1)

Next League Fixture:
Sunday 21st September 2014 Ospreys v Edinburgh @ Liberty Stadium. Kick Off: 16:00

Challenge Cup (Pool 4)
Edinburgh
Bordeaux-Begles
Lyon
London Welsh

Edinburgh Ins and Outs 2014/15

Players In
Neil Cochrane from London Wasps
John Andress from Worcester Warriors
Rory Sutherland from Gala RFC
Tom Heathcote from Bath Rugby
Michael Tait from Newcastle Falcons
Fraser McKenzie from Newcastle Falcons
Jamie Ritchie from Howe of Fife RFC
Phil Burleigh from Highlanders
Anton Bresler from Natal Sharks
Brett Thompson from USA Sevens

Players Out
Steven Lawrie retired
Alun Walker released
Alex Allan to Glasgow Warriors
Geoff Cross to London Irish
Lewis Niven released
Sean Cox to London Irish
Robert McAlpine released
Perry Parker to Rotherham Titans
Izak van der Westhuizen released
Ross Rennie to Bristol Rugby
Dimitri Basilaia to Perpignan
Alex Black released
Greig Laidlaw to Gloucester Rugby
Chris Leck released
Piers Francis released
Gregor Hunter released
Harry Leonard to Yorkshire Carnegie
Ben Cairns retired
Nick De Luca to Biarritz
Lee Jones to Glasgow Warriors
Aleki Lutui to Gloucester Rugby
John Yapp to Wasps

Previous Meetings

Sunday 15th February 2014 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Connacht 11-7 Edinburgh
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14210.php

Friday 29th November 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Edinburgh 43-10 Edinburgh
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13501.php

REMINDER - We'll be in The Dáil Bar from 7.00, it'd be great to get a good crowd in for the first away match of the season, so come along, bring a friend, what the hell, bring an enemy if that's what it takes!

connachtclan.com/news/335-dail-event-edinburgh-v-connacht