Chris Paterson needs big performance as Edinburgh back-ups bid to stake Euro claim

EDINBURGH coach Michael Bradley admitted last week that he was always going to rest his front-line players ahead of the Heineken Cup semi-final next weekend, but he has insisted that there remained opportunities for those handed the jerseys in tomorrow’s league match at Cardiff to claim a part of the European limelight.

None will be more determined to make Bradley rethink selection than Chris Paterson, the most-capped Scotland internationalist. He may be heading towards the end of his career but remains hugely competitive and desperate to finish on a high with his club after retiring from the Test arena last year.

He comes in for Tom Brown at full-back this week knowing that he needs to put in a top-class performance against a very strong Cardiff side to have a chance of dislodging the youngster he has been mentoring over the past year and more.

In reality, some of the players wearing the Edinburgh jersey tomorrow will be doing so for the last time as Bradley continues to shape a new squad for next season. James King and Steven Turnbull are back in action after injuries, John Houston returns to the centre, Sep Visser and Jim Thompson to the wings and Phil Godman links up with Alex Black at half-back.

A full front-row switch has Kyle Traynor, Andy Kelly and Jack Gilding returning with promising youngster Robert McAlpine joining Turnbull in the second row and Alan MacDonald and Struan Dewar forming a new back row with Roddy Grant at No 8. Lewis Niven is back from injury for a bench shot and there is a first squad call-up for Aberdeen Grammar lock Murray Douglas.

Ben Cairns (knee), Esteban Lozada (chest), Steven Lawrie (knee) and Stuart McInally (hamstring strain) are all out injured.

Some of tomorrow’s players are youngsters with a promising future in the professional game and others preparing to leave the club with justifiable complaints about the lack of opportunity they have been given, but pro rugby is harsh, particularly in the small two-team Scottish environment, so this is a chance to show what they are capable of.

It will be an emotional occasion certainly for Cardiff as the home supporters know who is leaving their squad and will have the opportunity to say goodbye to a host of leading lights, some through retirement and others as a result of the Welsh regions’ efforts to cut costs.

Among those heading out are Paul Tito, Dan Parks, Ben Blair, Casey Laulala, Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Maama Molitika, Faao Filise and Edinburgh-bound duo Richie Rees and John Yapp – Tito and Filise are injured, but the rest are in the 23 tomorrow – and bearing in mind Leigh Halfpenny, Michael Paterson, Xavier Rush, Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton are also out injured it will provide Cardiff fans with a final glimpse of the phenomenal strength in depth they had.

Edinburgh have beaten the Blues only once in their last seven meetings, the Heineken Cup win at Murrayfield in January, and so this is a severe test for a new and rusty Edinburgh side.

However, Bradley insisted: “This is where we want to be as a club and, as players, those picked to play Cardiff this weekend know that they could be one performance away from playing a part in a landmark day in the club’s history in the Heineken Cup semi-final and, potentially, the final, in three weeks’ time.

“Cardiff are a very strong team and our matches this season have been very close, so it’s an excellent opportunity for our players to put their hands up for the Heineken Cup squad selection.

“With so much at stake for these players, they will be mentally primed for this clash. With the right application they are capable for getting the desired result for Edinburgh Rugby.”