'We expect them to come fully loaded... They have some quality players'

Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair views Saturday’s visit of Wasps as an ideal opportunity to bounce back from their first defeat at the DAM Health Stadium but warned they would have to be at their best to stop the free-scoring visitors.

Blair’s side lost their unbeaten record at their new home when they went down 16-10 to Ulster on Saturday in their 11th game at the stadium in the shadow of BT Murrayfield.

The ground will host its first European quarter-final on Saturday lunchtime when Wasps visit in the Challenge Cup fresh from a 41-41 draw at the weekend, when they let slip a 25-point lead.

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We’re joined by an Englishman in the Pyrenees as Pau fly half Zack Henry talks us through his journey from Rouen in Federale 1 up through PRO D2 and to the Top 14 via a stint at Leicester in the Premiership. We hear how playing under Steve Borthwick at Tigers wasn’t the right fit, what Gabin Villiere was like back in his days as a back-up scrum half in the French third tier, how dangerous Chouffe socials can be and what happens when you injure your hamstring and are sent to a faith healer rather than a physio! Plus, Johnnie makes a big prediction about who will miss out on the Top 14 play-offs, we discuss Spain being stripped of their place at the World Cup in France next year and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
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Scaling The French Rugby Pyramid | Zack Henry | Le French Rugby Podcast | EP 27

We’re joined by an Englishman in the Pyrenees as Pau fly half Zack Henry talks us through his journey from Rouen in Federale 1 up through PRO D2 and to the Top 14 via a stint at Leicester in the Premiership. We hear how playing under Steve Borthwick at Tigers wasn’t the right fit, what Gabin Villiere was like back in his days as a back-up scrum half in the French third tier, how dangerous Chouffe socials can be and what happens when you injure your hamstring and are sent to a faith healer rather than a physio! Plus, Johnnie makes a big prediction about who will miss out on the Top 14 play-offs, we discuss Spain being stripped of their place at the World Cup in France next year and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD20 at checkout for 20% off any full price item at Meater.com

“We were obviously very disappointed to lose that unbeaten record at home,” Blair said. “It’s more of a stat than anything else but it also shows we are very difficult to beat at home. That’s the same going into the Wasps game.

“I thought Wasps played some outstanding rugby against London Irish in the first 60 minutes.

“Obviously London Irish came back in the game but it shows the quality of team that’s going to come up here. We expect them to come fully loaded and ready to go.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to get back on the horse. I thought we played some really, really good stuff at the weekend without going on to do the most important bit, so we have some work to do in and around there.”

There could be plenty of points on the scoreboard on Saturday. Edinburgh have notched 161 in their three home matches in Europe this season while Wasps have averaged 37 during a seven-match unbeaten run.

“Hopefully it will be open when we’ve got it and not so open when they’ve got it,” Blair said. “But they have lots of quality individuals and play a heads-up brand of rugby. They have some quality players.

“We like an open game, I believe it suits the players we have got. but at times like the weekend when the rain comes down we have got to adapt what we are doing a little bit.

“But Saturday will be a real challenge for us against a team that can really turn it on, and we will have to stop that being the case.”

Blair has some concerns in the hooker position with two Scotland internationals major doubts for Saturday. Dave Cherry played on with an arm injury after Stuart McInally went off with a calf problem.

“Stuart McInally and Dave Cherry both picked up injuries at the weekend and we are waiting to hear back about their scans to discover the extent of the issues,” Blair said.