Guinness Pro12: Edinburgh v Benetton Treviso preview
Last Updated: 19/12/14 7:14pm
Edinburgh welcome back David Denton for Friday’s Pro12 visit of bottom club Benetton Treviso to Murrayfield.
The Scotland international has recovered from the shoulder injury that saw him miss the back-to-back Challenge Cup wins over London Welsh, and he returns at No 8 to face a Treviso side that suffered a 67-0 hiding at Northampton last weekend.
Denton’s inclusion is one of three changes made by head coach Alan Solomons. Sam Beard replaces the injured Matt Scott at outside centre, and loosehead prop Alasdair Dickinson will make his first Edinburgh appearance in over two months as he comes in for Rory Sutherland.
Captain Mike Coman moves to blindside flanker to accommodate Denton’s return, while Joaquin Dominguez is named among the replacements.
Treviso, whose last victory came in April, have rung the changes for their trip to the Scottish capital.
Captain Corniel van Zyl returns to partner Tomas Vallejos in the second row, with Davide Giazzon selected at hooker and Simone Favaro and Dean Budd named in the back row.
There are also two changes in the backs as Alberto Lucchese starts at scrum-half and Sam Christie is named at inside centre.
The two teams have met on eight occasions, with both winning four games apiece, but Edinburgh have won just one of the last four meetings.
“Whilst it is great to have Dicko (Alasdair Dickinson) and Dents (David Denton) in action, it is disappointing to lose Matt Scott to injury, just as he was starting to hit his straps,” said Solomons.
“Despite our injury problems we are still able to field a competitive side in what is an important match for us in our domestic competition.”
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Tonks, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Neil Cochrane, 3 John Andress, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 Roddy Grant, 8 David Denton.
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Stuart McInally, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Joaquin Dominguez.
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Alberto Lucchese; 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 Davide Giazzon, 3 Matteo Muccignat, 4 Tomas Vallejos, 5 Corniel van Zyl (c), 6 Simone Favaro, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Dean Budd.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Jose Novak, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Mat Luamanu, 21 Enrico Bacchin, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 James Ambrosini.
