 Scrum-halves Mike Blair (Edinburgh) and Chris Cusiter (Glasgow) are key to their sides' hopes of progress |
Scotland's two European representatives insist they are better placed than ever to make an impact in the Heineken Cup. "Scottish teams don't want to just be bit-part players in this event," says Glasgow coach Sean Lineen, whose side face Biarritz, Gloucester and Dragons. "We are in a really competitive group but there is nothing that scares us." "We both go into it with good teams and stronger squads than ever before," adds Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat, whose side tackle Stade Francais, Bath and Ulster. Edinburgh's quarter-final appearance in 2004, when they lost in Toulouse, remains the only time a Scottish side has reached the last eight in the 14 years of Europe's premier club competition.  | We have some X-factor players who can win games for us and there is a bit more belief Glasgow coach Sean Lineen |
Glasgow did progress beyond the group stages once, in 1998, but were hammered 90-19 by Leicester in the long defunct quarter-final play-off stage. But both teams recorded landmark first Heineken Cup wins on French soil last season, Edinburgh winning 13-6 in Castres before Glasgow produced the shock result of the tournament by stunning three-time champions Toulouse 33-26. "It showed a lot of the less experienced guys that we can compete at that level," said Glasgow captain Alastair Kellock. "Not many teams go there and win. It was a fantastic performance, and it is about raising your game at this level. We got a great win, but it didn't actually mean anything in the end because we weren't pushing for qualification. "This year we want to put ourselves in a position where after Christmas we can still qualify. That would be huge for us." Glasgow open their campaign by hosting 2006 finalists Biarritz, who they beat at home - and narrowly lost away - in the group stages in 2007. | People talk about a fear factor but we are not afraid to go to Stade Francais Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat |
They then travel to face Newport-Gwent Dragons, with whom they shared a win apiece in last year's pool stages, before critical home and away games against Gloucester in December. "We always seem to have one or two big games in us come the Heineken Cup," notes Lineen. "The Toulouse game was good and bad last year. It showed what we can do, but ultimately we would like to have those sort of performances at the beginning of the tournament so we can crack on from there. "This Glasgow squad is stronger than ever. We definitely have more depth than before, we have some X-factor players who can win games for us and there is a little bit more belief than in the past." Edinburgh, who travel to face cash-rich Parisian outfit Stade Francais in their opener this Saturday before tackling Ulster at home, are also bullish about their prospects, with Bath completing their group. "People talk about a fear factor but we are not afraid to go to Stade Francais for our first game," adds Moffat. | 606: DEBATE |
"We will respect them but winning at Castres last year means we know we can win in France now. Our players will go to Paris believing we can win. If some players doubt that, you will struggle, but we have real belief. "Our league form has been good but we know the Heineken Cup is a level up. It has got better and better over the years, it is a fantastic competition. "But our young players just want to get better and test themselves against the so-called best sides. It is very important to have a positive mindset." Like Glasgow, Edinburgh have won three of their first five Magners League games, extending a winning run to nine at the start of the season after ending last year with six straight wins to finish second in the table. "We are certainly building consistency of performance," adds captain Mike Blair. "After Glasgow's win in Toulouse, people thought 'these Scottish teams can play a bit'. We are getting a lot more respect from the opposition now. People respect the progress we are making and are starting to sit up and take notice."
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