Celtic Cup final: Edinburgh coach Frank Hadden makes four changes to the team which beat Neath-Swansea Ospreys in last weekend's Heineken European Cup pool match for Saturday's Celtic Cup final at Murrayfield. Simon Webster returns from injury and reclaims his place on the right wing.
Craig Joiner moves across to the left wing, Simon Cross is named at openside flanker and Ramin Mathieson is elevated from the bench to tighthead prop.
"With the successes we have had over the last few games, and with an average of four tries per game, we have given ourselves a good start for this all important match," Hadden said. "It has given us the confidence we need without making us complacent. We have to start bringing in some silverware to get that particular monkey off our backs and we have to play well, because the Celtic Cup final represents a platform to show how well we have been playing."
Hadden was referring to a couple of outstanding performances in recent European Cup matches. Few would have given the Gunners a chance against reigning European champions Toulouse in the opening match of the pool stages of this season's competition, even though the match was at Meadowbank, their home ground.
The French side got off to a better start, but Edinburgh produced a marvellous second-half performance, culminating in Brendan Laney's late try that guaranteed victory. They then followed up this by travelling to Wales last weekend and winning against the Ospreys, and they secured a bonus point to boot.
Edinburgh skipper, and former New Zealand captain, Todd Blackadder, who was recently appointed as assistant coach to new Scoland coach Matt Williams, admitted: "It's a big game for us this weekend and we know we have to go out and work hard. Ulster are going to be a tough team to beat, but we are going to give it our best shot and hopefully give the crowd a good game to watch."
Edinburgh will be aware of the pedigree Ulster bring to the game, having received a drubbing at the hands of the Irish province at Meadowbank in a Celtic League game already this season. Their tormentor-in-chief that day, centre Ryan Constable, will not be at Murrayfield on Saturday because of a shoulder injury.
Edinburgh topped the Celtic League at one stage this season before going into a freefall that saw them plunge from top to bottom. Recent weeks suggest that they have recovered from that slump. The primary catalyst has probably been outhalf Chris Paterson; the Scottish international has been in superb form and it was his break that led to the match-winning try against Toulouse.
He forms a strong halfback partnership with the highly rated Mike Blair, and will be looking to his pack to provide the platform. The presence of the Australian-born Scottish international Nathan Hines and Scotland Lions lock Scott Murray in the second row should guarantee lineout possession. They also boast one of the best forwards in world rugby in their athletic number eight Simon Taylor.
Against Ulster, Edinburgh had plenty of possession but couldn't capitalise and were caught out badly when the Irish province upped the tempo of the game.
They will be looking forward to what is in effect a home game at Murrayfield.
EDINBURGH: D Lee; S Webster, M Di Rollo, B Laney, C Joiner; C Paterson, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, R Mathieson; N Hines, S Murray; T Blackadder (capt), S Taylor, S Cross. Replacements: A Kelly, C Smith, A Kellock, A Hogg, G Burns, A Dickson, H Southwell.
