Derbies fill Godman with real anticipation

Published on Friday 12 December 2008 09:13

PHIL GODMAN admitted that Edinburgh had to look beyond Sunday's Heineken European Cup showdown away to London Wasps – although they want to keep their qualification hopes flickering.

Mathematically, Edinburgh can still reach the knock-out stages despite losing two of their first three Pool 2 games.

But, while stressing that the team will not give up on their Euro dream, the international stand-off admitted that, realistically, the focus would soon switch back to domestic matters.

And that means back-to-back festive clashes with Glasgow in the Celtic League for which an away win at Wasps, as well as maintaining a meaningful presence in Europe, would be the perfect boost.

"There's an opportunity to get a fantastic result away from home especially having had a look at the video of our home defeat by Wasps last Friday to find plenty of opportunities existing for us to have a go at them.

"Realistically, everyone would write us off but the mood in the camp is to take things match by match.

"Obviously, last week's meeting was a must-win but adding another away success to that achieved at Castres would be tremendous.

"That's what we'll be trying to do but our ambitions to get out of the group are very slim now and we have two massive games against Glasgow in the context of our Magners Celtic League aims.

"The games at Murrayfield on Boxing Day and Firhill a week later are also in the must-win category after losing a few earlier league games narrowly."

In fact, Edinburgh have lost three Magners clashes by a single score margin and had they edged those fixtures against Munster (15-20), Dragons (9-11) and Ulster (9-13) would have been lying second a point off the pace rather than sixth.

Godman added: "The derbies will define our season so there is everything to play for in seeking not just a win on Sunday – a four-try bonus point would be really special but we'll take a win first and foremost – but a performance that sets us up for what should be two cracking games."

A former Newcastle player, Godman can draw on experience of visiting Wasps' Adams Park ground to prepare tactically for this weekend.

One of the highlights of the European campaign so far was his brilliantly-executed cross-kick for Mark Robertson to score against Wasps at Murrayfield.

However, Godman is wary due to the dimensions of a pitch which Wasps share with Wycombe Wanderers FC.

He said: "I know from visiting Wasps in the past that the pitch is not only tight but the in-goal area is short.

"The reason for the cross-kick was to add a bit of extra width to our attack because we were struggling to get our wingers involved.

"I spoke to both our wingers about possibly using that ploy and when the chance came it worked well.

"This time around, though, anything similar would have to be spot-on because of the size of the pitch. There won't be the space to be found at Murrayfield."

If pitch dimensions will be different how about the approach from the respective sides?

Godman warns: "I expect Wasps will have the psyche of trying to get a bonus point on their own ground.

"That could mean keeping things tight to begin with and then trying to play a bit more rugby."

That was a reference to how Wasps were mainly content to feed off Edinburgh mistakes and the Scots have been primed for a more disciplined effort with coach Andy Robinson satisfied that once they stopped conceding penalties momentum could be generated.

For Godman and a host of other Edinburgh stars this match will be their second last outside Scotland before the start of the Six Nations campaign and a chance to enhance prospects.

Capped 12 times already will it be a lucky 13th against Wales on February 8? Test legend Craig Chalmers certainly thinks so in giving his successor a glowing report in the latest "Rugby World" magazine.

"As a youngster, I obviously looked towards both Craig and also Gregor Townsend and maybe brought a bit of both into my game. When somebody like Craig compliments you, though, you tend to think they know a bit better than others so it is definitely a boost," said Godman who, clearly, will go into his 32nd European appearance on a high.