EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
Spies on the guys as old rivals clash
BILL LOTHIAN

IRISH spies looking for insight into Scotland's plans ahead of next week's first-ever clubs international in Dublin could be zeroing in on Goldenacre tomorrow where Heriot's entertain Capital rivals Boroughmuir in BT Premiership Division One.

Of course, stakes will be contrasting for these two long established rivals with Heriot's guaranteed salvation and Boroughmuir facing a "must-win" as they bid to avoid the drop, according to skipper Rory Couper.

But setting such difficulties aside - a meeting on reconstruction next month has to decide whether relegation is scrapped anyway - it could be a chance to see the cream of Scotland's club crop in the final work out before the national team is announced with Couper and opposite wing number Marc Teague topping the bill.

Others strongly in the running are believed to include scrum half Calum Cusiter and open-side flanker Angus Martyn, below right, for a 'Muir side three points behind fourth bottom Stewart's/Melville.

So far as Couper's cameo showdown with Teague is concerned, adding to the intrigue is the close similarity in styles, as acknowledged by both players.

Teague said: "Facing Rory is a bit like looking in a mirror because there is so much I reckon I can fine tune in my own game through watching somebody with the same approach as me."

Rival Couper agreed, saying: "We're both stocky, stronger types who hopefully encourage our teams to get the ball out wide."

That is certainly the case as the tries mount for both and, while admitting that Heriot's cannot finish higher than third, Teague insists there is still a lot of his outfit to achieve.

He said: "Realising Glasgow Hawks have already won the league with Watsonians guaranteed second place, we sat down and set ourselves the target of going through the remainder of the card unbeaten in the knowledge it would boost prospects for re-gaining the Scottish Cup which is our primary aim. We are pre-occupied with a strong finish to the campaign and getting the right blend to our back row.

"Besides, there is also the matter of setting the record straight after going down at Boroughmuir early in the season in a result which illustrates how little there is between all the Edinburgh sides."

That aspect is seized upon by Couper in highlighting the fact that despite languishing in one of the three relegation spots they have actually taken the scalp of some leading sides.

"None of our four Capital rivals have beaten us twice and now we have the chance to complete a league double over Heriot's.

"Regardless of any bragging rights that might bestow in Edinburgh we need all five points available, though, since we have left ourselves with a bit to do.

"At least in going down to Hawks last week we showed our capabilities in leading the eventual champions 19-7 going into the second half but, in a way, that underlined our inconsistency and we need to be hungrier this week. It helps that some of our key individuals are hitting form at the right time and Calum Cusiter is playing in the mould of his brother, Chris, the Scotland and Lions scrum half.

"Besides showing good hands and plenty of aggression with a fantastic sidestep when I made a break last week, it was reassuring that, when support was needed, Calum had the pace.

"As for Angus, he is so good at seeking out the loose ball and making ground and if we put it together we can rise above injuries to the likes of stand off Andy Hadden (broken thumb) and forward Euan Matheson who twisted an ankle last week."

Elsewhere, Stewart's/Melville spokesman Malcolm McColl has confirmed there will be no let up going into a clash at Watsonians despite finally extricating themselves from the bottom three.

"Watsonians are the one team who have really turned over our forwards this season but we reckon we have improved significantly in all areas since then and Saturday will provide a measure of where we are at," said McColl of a side going for an eighth consecutive league win.

On this occasion Stew/Mel are forced into at least one change as Test three-quarter Craig Joiner has failed to recover from a head knock while Ben Leathes could move up from the bench into one of the back five positions.

Another side showing dramatic improvement are Currie with five wins out of six.

Victory at Ayr tomorrow could see them climb into the top half of the table and coach Ally Donaldson confirms that would enable them to then focus on a first-ever Scottish Cup triumph.

Recalled up front is experienced hooker Gavin Scott while Andy Muir will cover for full back Dougie Flockhart whose sending off against Hawick last week could be contested.

Donaldson says: "We were pleased to learn that the Hawick player involved in an incident where Dougie was dismissed as spoken up for him and hopefully we will have a written statement backing up our belief that any contact was accidental."

This article was originally posted on 3-Mar-2006, 12:48 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 3-Mar-2006, 12:49.