Former Hawk Tom Philip who signed for Edinburgh on the eve of Hawks 2002 Cup Final match v Hawick looks set for a comeback as revealed in the Edinburgh Evening News

Philip can cap his comeback
BILL LOTHIAN
SCOTLAND backs' coach Alan Tait insists a return to the national squad remains a possibility for Tom Philip, despite the four-times capped Edinburgh centre not having played for three years.

Philip, 24, made a shock return to training with Edinburgh at Dreghorn Barracks this week, despite extensive back surgery following his last match for Scotland against the Barbarians in 2004.



"I have watched Tom getting involved with Edinburgh as and when he feels fit, under an arrangement he has with them," said Tait who is a predecessor of Philip in the Scotland midfield.

"It would be great to see Tom back after being out so long and, if he recaptures his old form, who knows what might happen. He has the size and strength you need for international rugby."

Whether Philip, whose next step is a run out for Edinburgh Accies, goes the whole way remains to be seen and, keeping the door open Tait added: "The main thing for Tom is to be given time and we will not be putting pressure on him."

Meanwhile, as the current Edinburgh squad prepare to launch their Magners Celtic League bid against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday interim coach Henry Edwards has called on his charges to seize the moment.

"Everything will be up in the air for a while at league level with so many players on every side away at the World Cup. One aspect of that, however, is to create opportunities to put pressure on the international contingent when they return."

Domestic fare is later in starting as a consequence of the World Cup but Edwards insists Edinburgh will hit the ground running.

"We gave the players last week off because we have been back training since June and, while that might be seen as a risk so close to the new season, that is more than balanced out by their renewed freshness."

A summer upheaval including the sacking of a coach [Lynn Howells] and return to central control from private ownership might have been off-putting for some squads, but Edwards is adamant the players have taken it all in their stride.

Nobody would be more affected than lock Ben Gissing who was signed from Italian side Calvisano by Howells but Edwards insists the Kiwi has shown true professionalism.

He said: "Ben just gets on with his job in providing quality and a lot of experience."

Gissing, who was once on the books of Auckland, is earmarked for a special role this weekend as a former Leinster stalwart. Edwards admitted: "We are getting a bit of insight from not only Ben but Andrew Maxwell who played against Leinster on plenty of occasions with his previous club, Ulster.

"Overall, though, I don't expect Leinster to play very much differently against us than in the past especially with the same coach, Michael Cheika."

Having pitted his wits against coaches from far and wide in the past, could Edwards be tempted to throw his hat into the ring to take full-time charge at Edinburgh?

The ex-Boroughmuir captain is adamant the present interim post has been a win-win situation so far as his role is concerned with the Scottish rugby academy - but only on a short term basis.

He said: "I'm happy to help out with Edinburgh where one advantage is to refresh myself with the latest ideas at pro level. I made a conscious decision to move on a while back and nothing has really changed."

This article was posted on 20-Sep-2007, 11:41 by Hugh Barrow.