Edinburgh ready to show strength of Auld Alliance
IF they won’t quite feel as if they are intruding upon private grief, all at Edinburgh will be treading carefully upon arrival at the Stade Armandie this evening.
Precisely a week on from the Paris atrocities, tonight’s European Challenge Cup match — one of the first major sporting events on French soil since the attacks on the capital — will obviously be a focal point for a great many emotions.
Respectful of their hosts, more than ready to observe whatever pre-match ceremonies home side Agen deem appropriate, the Scottish visitors understand they have a role to play.
Here is the first ‘post-Paris’ opportunity for sport to emphasise the strength of the Auld Alliance. Whatever happens once referee Peter Fitzgibbon sounds his whistle for kick-off, simply fulfilling this fixture means something. Amid tightened security, yes, but with a spirit of defiance nonetheless.
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons, drawing on a defining moment from his own homeland’s history to emphasise the importance of playing up and playing on, said: ‘I think sport plays a role. In many, many ways, I think sport can play a major role.
‘We saw that with South Africa in 1995, at the World Cup, when Nelson Mandela played a major role in bringing the country together through sport. It was at a point when the country had just embraced democracy for the first time.
‘So I think sport can be a great unifying factor and I think, certainly, in circumstances like these sport can play a role.
‘Whatever Agen require on the day, whatever they think is appropriate, we will happily comply with that. That’s no problem at all.
‘We understand that what has happened has been horrific. We are obviously deeply appreciative of the situation and will comply with whatever they need.
‘We haven’t really had to talk to the players about it because even the young boys are pretty up to speed with what is going on. Apart from the papers, social media means they will be au fait with the situation.
‘I was reading comments Jamie Ritchie made and you could tell he was fully appreciative of the situation. I think that applies to everybody.’
As well-prepared as this Edinburgh team might think they are, no one can say how players on either side will react once the inevitable rendition of La Marseillaise — a rallying cry like no other, its message as relevant as ever — has set every nerve ending alight.
Solomons (below), asked if he thought Agen may be fired up by the thought of representing France at this most difficult of times, said: ‘That may be so, particularly as things are. . . I wouldn’t say they are settled, but it’s not quite as raw as in the immediate aftermath of the event. ‘Obviously it’s still pretty raw, but I think that it can be used as a galvanising and unifying factor.’
Agen conceded eight tries in their heavy loss to London Irish in Reading last Saturday, the result and performance of the French team — less than 24 hours after the Paris attacks — coming as no surprise. They are also struggling in the Top 14 ,so Edinburgh — who make five changes from their opening Pool 5 win at home to Grenoble — should fancy their chances of making a statement.
Yet Solomons remains naturally wary, warning: ‘French sides at home are very different to French sides away. Agen have a Top 14 home game straight after our match, and I would imagine they are going to use this game to build towards that.
‘So I’m expecting them to put out a fairly strong outfit and look to generate confidence. I think we’re in for a tough game.
‘But we’re better equipped to compete on two fronts this season. I think we are in a much stronger position than we were last year. We still need to recruit to improve our strength in depth, but we are in a much better situation.
‘We’ve been able to do rotations, which is really good. I’d say we need to be relatively injury free to be able to hold our strength in depth. In the backs we have key players, and Phil Burleigh is one of them — and he’s sorely missed.’
Burleigh is left at home with a calf injury that should clear up by next weekend, while Scotland scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is rested after a five-game run.
Of those coming into the side, perhaps the most eye-catching inclusion is that of Tongan international winger Otulea Katoa, who makes his first start after proving his fitness with Boroughmuir.
The 24-year-old will start on the left and Solomons said: ‘He’s now got an opportunity. At Edinburgh he is now more relaxed in his environment — and I think we need to see him.’
Cornell du Preez, the try-scoring man-of-the-match against Grenoble, retains his place in the back row, as does John Hardie, the pair joined by Nasi Manu moving up from the bench.
Du Preez, trying to avoid thinking too much about the big issues beyond the white lines tonight, said simply: ‘We trust the security will be top notch so, for us, it is just playing the game and getting on with it.
‘Will we see a little extra from Agen in the circumstances? Possibly. They may be coming out with a lot of fire, playing with a lot of passion. They will be coming out there to play for sure.’