Pau v Caledonia Reds
SELF-BELIEF is the byword that Caledonia skipper Rob Wainwright will attempt to drum into into his troops in the build-up to tonight's Heineken European Cup encounter against the battle-hardened Frenchmen of Pau.
Wainwright is the only member of the Reds squad who has enjoyed the sweet tang of success on Gallic soil, and he is convinced that, with the correct mental approach, the experience can be repeated this weekend. ''You can only win in France if you believe you can win in France,'' declared the Scotland captain.
''Two seasons ago at the Parc des Princes, we dispelled the myth that it was well-nigh impossible for a Scottish team to triumph over there - and it is my duty to cite that match as a convincing example to the rest of the squad. Very few of the party have even played in France, let alone won there - and I firmly believe that to be an advantage, because they have no bad memories of the place to dwell upon.''
He argued that the biggest enemy of the Reds would be complacency in the wake of their first European success against the Italian glamour boys of Treviso in Perth last weekend. ''Managing to beat Treviso on our own McDiarmid Park turf is a completely different kettle of fish from winning away at Pau,'' Wainwright.
''Like most of the French sides, they have a superb home record. Our task is certainly a daunting one. But, if we play as we know we can play, we are capable of earning a positive result.
''We realise they are a physical side who are particularly good when attacking out wide, but we have been working hard on our defensive patterns to cope with that. From what I saw on TV, Pau were not all that impressive when they beat Llanelli last week. Their lineout can certainly be exploited.''
Caledonia coach Ian Rankin has added beef to his front row by recalling Kirkcaldy prop Willie Anderson for his first full game since being controversially sent off in the Tennents Scottish Cup semi-final against Melrose. Rankin said: ''We expect Pau to be extremely physical up front and Willie is a streetwise campaigner who won't get pushed around.''
Anderson brushed off suggestions that, having served a summer-long suspension, he might struggle to cope with the pace of such the match. ''I'm probably the fittest guy in the team,'' he insisted.
''While they have all been playing matches, I have been training like mad. In fact, I did so much training that I had to go on a weight-GAIN programme because I shed two stone.''
Pau spokesman Michel Parneix said: ''We regard Caledonia as the most potent of the Scottish teams and we expect a very hard but fair match.''
Pau - N Brusque, P Bernat-Salles, D Dantiacq, F Leloir, Y Martin, D Aucagne, F Torossian, P Triep-Capdeville, J Rey (capt), J-M Gonzales, A Lagouarde, T Mentieres, S Keith, N Bacque, F Rolles. Substitutes - A Vercruysse, B Liberatore, S Bria, H Ballihaut, S Vignolo.
Caledonia - R Shepherd, N Renton, P Rouse, A Carruthers, J Kerr, B Easson, D Patterson, J Manson, G Scott, W Anderson, J White, S Grimes, D McIvor, G Flockhart, R Wainwright (capt). Substitutes - D Officer, M Fraser, G Hayter, M Waite, S Penman, S Brown, D Herrington.
Referee - G Simmonds (Wales).
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