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Edinburgh v Munster
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Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson has resisted the temptation to use Chris Paterson at fly-half in the season opener with Munster.
Paterson slots in at right wing for his competitive comeback following his ill-fated year at Gloucester, while Phil Godman fills the number 10 jersey.
Lock Craig Hamilton and prop Geoff Cross have been given the nod to start.
Munster have named a strong side with Tomas O'Leary preferred to Peter Stringer at scrum-half.
The defending Heineken Cup champions finished third in the Magners League last season.
Hamilton and Cross produced rousing displays for Edinburgh in pre-season friendly wins over English champions Wasps and European Shield winners Bath.
Robinson says his side are better equipped to deal with the demands of the Magners League in the coming season.
"We had a new coach - and that is where Munster are now," Robinson said. "I am very excited about this team.
"Our foundations are in place and we then found momentum. When that happened, we took off."
The former England boss looked back in frustration to last season's close encounters with the Heineken Cup victors.
And he wants the Gunners to turn pressure into points in their quest to get their campaign off to a flyer.
"We had Munster on the ropes in both games last term - but on each occasion we let them off the hook," Robinson said.
"We were on top. However, we couldn't produce the finishing power when it mattered and you need that quality to beat teams of their quality."
Robinson, however, is only too aware of the task facing his side if they are to overcome Munster.
"They have brought in some backs of tremendous quality and there will be more to them as a team. I think they might surprise a few people," Robinson added.
Edinburgh:H Southwell; C Paterson, M MacRae, N De Luca, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, C Hamilton, B Gissing, M Mustchin, A MacDonald, A Hogg.
Replacements: A Kelly, G Kerr, S Newlands, D Callam, G Laidlaw, M Robertson, A Turnbull.
Munster: D Howlett; K Earls, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, D Wallace.
Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, J Melck, P Stringer, P Warwick, B Murphy
BBC Sport
Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson has resisted the temptation to use Chris Paterson at fly-half in the season opener with Munster.
Paterson slots in at right wing for his competitive comeback following his ill-fated year at Gloucester, while Phil Godman fills the number 10 jersey.
Lock Craig Hamilton and prop Geoff Cross have been given the nod to start.
Munster have named a strong side with Tomas O'Leary preferred to Peter Stringer at scrum-half.
The defending Heineken Cup champions finished third in the Magners League last season.
Hamilton and Cross produced rousing displays for Edinburgh in pre-season friendly wins over English champions Wasps and European Shield winners Bath.
Robinson says his side are better equipped to deal with the demands of the Magners League in the coming season.
"We had a new coach - and that is where Munster are now," Robinson said. "I am very excited about this team.
"Our foundations are in place and we then found momentum. When that happened, we took off."
The former England boss looked back in frustration to last season's close encounters with the Heineken Cup victors.
And he wants the Gunners to turn pressure into points in their quest to get their campaign off to a flyer.
"We had Munster on the ropes in both games last term - but on each occasion we let them off the hook," Robinson said.
"We were on top. However, we couldn't produce the finishing power when it mattered and you need that quality to beat teams of their quality."
Robinson, however, is only too aware of the task facing his side if they are to overcome Munster.
"They have brought in some backs of tremendous quality and there will be more to them as a team. I think they might surprise a few people," Robinson added.
Edinburgh:H Southwell; C Paterson, M MacRae, N De Luca, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, C Hamilton, B Gissing, M Mustchin, A MacDonald, A Hogg.
Replacements: A Kelly, G Kerr, S Newlands, D Callam, G Laidlaw, M Robertson, A Turnbull.
Munster: D Howlett; K Earls, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, D Wallace.
Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, J Melck, P Stringer, P Warwick, B Murphy
BBC Sport
