Heineken Cup: Ross Rennie fired up for return to action in crunch clash

THE questions for players and coaches at this time of year have tended to surround the great opportunities that the last weekend of European pool action throw up for those with an eye on the RBS Six Nations, so there is a fresh excitement in the air at Edinburgh as they instead stick with Heineken hopes.

Sure, seeing one’s name in the starting line-up this week for the eagerly-anticipated Heineken Cup match with Racing Metro 92 does provide a golden chance to press claims for a Scotland jersey in the Calcutta Cup just over three weeks’ away. Flankers Ross Rennie and David Denton are among those returning fully aware that their performances in the next fortnight in comparison with rivals at Glasgow and elsewhere could determine whether they line up for a first meeting with England.

But Rennie could not be more convincing when he said that that takes second place this week to the prospect of propelling Edinburgh towards the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. Rennie was still at school when Edinburgh last reached the knockout stages, in 2004.

“It’s great to get a start obviously in such a big match,” he said. “You can’t underestimate how big this is for the club. It would be a great thing to get a win out in France and that’s what we’re going to try to do.

“It’s brilliant because we know we’ve got a huge chance of doing something special this year. I’m not even thinking about that [Scotland selection]. This is our season in many ways, the next two games, and so everyone is really pumped for it and looking forward to it.”

There should be no underestimating either of the strength of desire of the French side to atone for the 48-47 defeat at Murrayfield and finish their European campaign with two wins, and a first at home in only their second time in the tournament.

There is, however, a clear belief that victory in France, emulating the 13-6 win over Castres in 2008-9, can be achieved. Cardiff are away to London Irish on Saturday, who continue to struggle to string wins together, and host Racing next weekend at the same time as Edinburgh kick-off against Irish.

Dan Parks’ side share top spot with Edinburgh on 13, and though the Scots have more tries, so take the nominal top spot at present, if both teams remain locked at the top of Pool Two after the next ten days, the Blues would progress on account of having more match points (5-4) from the back-to-back games with Edinburgh. The Scots could still then drop into the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals, but the aim currently is to secure more points than Cardiff, which could mean all ten being required.

Bradley rested key players over the festive period and has been rewarded with only James King a possible first-choice unavailable now through injury. Back into the side come Lee Jones, Matt Scott, Mike Blair, meaning skipper Greig Laidlaw shifts to stand-off again, and forwards Grant Gilchrist, Rennie and Denton. Racing are expected to be missing a handful of top players as their European hopes are gone, but Bradley is acutely aware of the dangers of under-estimating what remains one of France’s best club sides.

“Racing won’t be happy at losing two matches at home and whatever team they put out it’s quality and the challenge is always going to be the same. It has happened to me before where their perceived second string appear and out of nowhere because they’re fired up and enthusiastic they are very dangerous, which is why we’re focusing on ourselves.

“If we do the basics well and create the opportunity to attack and put pressure on racing, and keep the tempo up, we feel we can win the game.”

Bradley has boldly placed great store on this next fortnight, with the chances of reaching the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs virtually gone in defeats to Glasgow and Ulster, and it is now up to the players to match his ambition with the blend of powerful forward effort and up-tempo attacking performance that they have been attempting to combine in the same 80 minutes.

They have provided their supporters and Scottish rugby with a more appealing January focus, but can they go one better and step among Europe’s top eight clubs?

“This is a huge opportunity for the club and the players,” added Bradley. “Potentially half of the sides that started this competition are not now in a position to qualify.

“But we are and we should be excited about that and our supporters should be excited next week as well because no matter what happens this week next week is going to be a huge, huge game for us in terms of progressing into some element of knockout rugby.”