MX23RW : Wednesday, September 26 20:45:09

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill looking forward to Leinster test

Cockerill has made several changes for the trip to Dublin.

Edinburgh will throw everything they have got at reigning Guinness PRO14 champions Leinster when they head to Dublin on Saturday, according to head coach Richard Cockerill.

The Englishman has made nine changes to his capital line-up for the RDS Arena clash.

He welcomes back a number of international stars, including Ross Ford, Allan Dell and Magnus Bradbury, and Cockerill hopes to see his side make their mark on a team that completed a rare double by backing up their league triumph with glory in the Champions Cup.

"It's going to be a good challenge for us, "Cockerill said. "We're going to go there, throw everything at them and see where we get to.

"We pushed them close there last year and were probably unlucky not to get anything out of the game. They're a great side and had a good win against Dragons last weekend.

"It's going to be a tough evening for us but one we look forward to.

"Leinster are and have the best team in Europe and we've got to go there and give it a bash."

Cockerill has retained just six players from the starting line-up that beat Connacht 17-10 last weekend.

Dougie Fife, Duhan van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Ben Toolis, Luke Hamilton and Jamie Ritchie are all once again selected as Edinburgh look to secure their first away victory of the season.

Fife completes the back-three alongside wingers Van der Merwe and Scotland Sevens specialist Jamie Farndale, who is makes his first appearance for Edinburgh since his debut as a replacement against Cardiff Blues in April 2012.

In the midfield, Chris Dean returns from injury to partner summer recruit Juan Pablo Socino, who starts for the first time. Van der Walt continues at stand-off, while Sean Kennedy is in at scrum-half.

A new-look front-row sees 110-times capped Scotland hooker Ford pack down alongside Dell and Simon Berghan, while Fraser McKenzie – named as captain – and Toolis form the second-row.

Bradbury is named at number eight, with Ritchie and Hamilton completing a combative back-row.

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