Hopes that changes can help to stop the rot at Myreside

Edinburgh have rung the changes as they attempt to stop the rot and cling on to their faint hopes of European Champions Cup qualification against Connacht tonight.

Acting head coach Duncan Hodge has switched half-backs and locks and changed two back three players for the visit of the Guinness PRO12 champions.

A week after tumbling out of the Challenge Cup, the capital side know that their chances of playing in the senior competition hinge on ending a run of seven successive defeats.

So far the move to Myreside has proved successful in terms of crowd numbers and atmosphere, but the Challenge Cup victory over Romanian minnows Timisoara Saracens remains their only victory at their new home since they switched from BT Murrayfield in January.

Once again there were good patches of play which had French Top 14 leaders La Rochelle in bother last week but individual errors continue to haunt the Edinburgh club, admitted Hodge.

“We played a lot of good rugby last week but a lack of consistency and a high error count meant we were unable to dominate the game for long periods,” he said.

“We’re continuing to work hard on cutting out the costly mistakes.”

Only one of the six changes is enforced with Jason Tovey, groin injury, resulting in Duncan Weir’s recall.

With Blair Kinghorn away with Scotland Sevens, Glenn Bryce comes in at full-back and Rory Scholes replaces Tom Brown on the left wing.

The pack is unchanged other than the second rows, with Fraser McKenzie and Ben Toolis back from a back injury.

Club co-captain Stuart McInally could make his 100th appearance but it will be off the bench with Ross Ford retaining captaincy duties.