Reds bank on foreign legion to undermine French aspirations

The French factor looms large over Scottish hopes in the European Cup this weekend, with Edinburgh Reivers away to Biarritz and Glasgow Caledonians preparing a hot reception for Pau at Hughenden.

What could prove to be the Reds trump card, both tomorrow and in the return match in Pau next Saturday, is their own "French factor" - ex-Bourgoin stars James McLaren and Mark McKenzie.

Passed over for SRU contracts, the pair left Stirling County for French rugby.

Their reward was international recognition with McLaren winning eight caps to date, the last being Scotland’s first Test in New Zealand, and McKenzie making four A team appearances.

McLaren has finally laid to rest an ankle injury, which ruled him out of the second Test in New Zealand, and will make his Reds debut tomorrow while the reliable and determined fly-half McKenzie has been recalled to the starting line-up after an out-of-sorts display by Tommy Hayes in Sunday’s defeat to Leicester.

McLaren admitted: "I hope we can instil in the boys some confidence we can win both at home and away against Pau.

"People say that it’s always hard to win in France, which may be right, but that’s a negative way to approach the game.

"Mark and myself know a bit about Pau and what it’s like in France, so hopefully we can help the players realise we can be confident about winning these games."

McKenzie agreed, stating: "I think Scottish teams traditionally do not believe how good they are, but we see the French now just as other players - we know they have frailties and weaknesses, and that we can exploit them. We’re definitely good enough to beat them home and away - and if we can, that would put us back in with a chance."

West of Scotland hooker Carlo Di Ciacca will make his European Cup debut after Gavin Scott was withdrawn yesterday with a thigh injury.

Scott’s withdrawal follows the injury suffered by skipper Gordon Bulloch last weekend and further depletes the Reds’ front-row stocks.

Di Ciacca’s promotion sees another emergency man, East Kilbride’s Scotland Under-21 prop Andrew Welsh, called on to the bench for the first clash against the side from the Paloise rugby region.

The French side have proven themselves successful European performers in the last two years by reaching the quarter-finals in season 1997/98 and then winning the title last term.

However, French sides have struggled this season, winning just four games out of 12 in the opening fortnight of the European Cup. According to the French media, doubts are beginning to creep insidiously into the French psyche.

With Canadian lock Al Charron out injured and hooker Marc del Maso left out of the French squad, Pau also have their share of problems.

Glasgow Caledonians (v Pau, Hughenden, 2pm tomorrow): R Shepherd; J Steel, A Bulloch, J McLaren, G Metcalfe; M McKenzie, G Beveridge; D Hilton, C di Ciacca, G McIlwham, S Campbell, S Griffiths,J White, G Simpson, J Petrie. Subs: A Welsh, A Watt, D Burns, M Waite, F Stott, T Hayes, S Longstaff.

Pau: D Traille; P Bomati, S Guilhem, J-C Cistacq, X Cambres; D Aucagne, P Carbonneau; M Larrouy, M Dal Maso, S Bria, T Cleda, A Lagouarde, A Agueb, L Maillier, E Gouloumet. Subs: P Etchegaray, J Rey, N Bacque, G Combes, B Aurignac, L Arbo, D Arrieta.

Referee: G Simmonds (Wales).