Treviso v Edinburgh: Teams
Mike Blair and Ross Rennie return to the Edinburgh line-up as two of six changes to the side that will face Treviso.
Last Updated: 04/11/11 2:51pm
Scotland internationalists Mike Blair and Ross Rennie return to the Edinburgh line-up as two of six changes to the side that will face Treviso.
Their inclusion completes the reintegration of the club's eight World Cup players and sees Roddy Grant (back-row) and Greig Laidlaw (scrum-half) rotated to the bench for the first time this season.
Laidlaw hands the captaincy to hooker Ross Ford, who packs down with props Allan Jacobsen and Geoff Cross.
"This is another big game for us in the context of the RaboDirect PRO12 championship and the opportunity to reintroduce key players successfully ahead of a crucial 12-game phase of the 2011/12 season," said Edinburgh head coach Michael Bradley.
"Edinburgh's ability to score tries and to play an expansive and exciting game is well-documented but we must be as clinical in the execution of out defensive structures.
"Treviso are on a high at the moment after a series of good results, none more so than their recent 50-point win over the Dragons.
"A confident Italian side at home is a very tough prospect indeed but we have faith in our ability to put points on the board and, with a greater concentration and commitment to our defence, we can come home with a win this weekend."
Jim Thompson will start at full-back in place of the injured Chris Paterson (groin) while Lee Jones comes in for Simon Webster on the wing having missed last weekend's match with a groin strain.
The backs are completed by the retention of 19-year-old fly-half Harry Leonard, centres Matt Scott and Nick de Luca and record-breaking winger, Tim Visser, who looks to continue his try-scoring form.
The introduction of Grant Gilchrist and Netani Talei for Steven Turnbull (lock) and Stuart McInally (number eight) are the final two changes to the starting team.
Chris Leck earns a place on the bench having recovered from an ankle injury and Tom Brown takes Thompson's vacated place amongst the replacements.
Treviso changes
Meanwhile, Treviso coach Franco Smith has made three changes to his line-up.
Scrum-half Fabio Semenzato is replaced by Tobias Botes, one of the try-scorers against the Dragons.
After celebrating Brendan Williams's 200th game, Semenzato will be another player who is likely to reach an important milestone in his career with his 100th cap waiting in the wings should he come off the bench.
Other changes in the backs sees double centurion Williams replaced by Luke McLean at wing.
Up front, Franco Sbaraglini takes over from Enrico Ceccatois at hooker.
Treviso: 15 Ludovico Nitoglia, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Ezio Galon, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Marco Filippucci, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Diego Vidal, 17 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, 18 Pedro Di Santo, 19 Benjamin Vermaak, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Fabio Semenzato, 22 Willem De Waal, 23 Brendan Williams.
Edinburgh: 15 Jim Thompson, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick de Luca, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Harry Leonard, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Dave Denton, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Esteban Lozada, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford (c), 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Steven Lawrie, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Lewis Niven, 19 Steven Turnbull, 20 Stuart McInally, 21 Chris Leck, 22 Greig Laidlaw, 23 Tom Brown.