Edinburgh Reivers chief executive Nick Oswald claims that the side have
another target to attain when they face Biarritz on Saturday.
The Reivers secured their first win on English soil against Northampton last
week to keep their 100% European Cup record intact.But now Ian Rankin's side are gunning for their first competitive victory on foreign ground.
``We have got a monkey off our backs with our first win in England, and what
better way of doing that than by beating the reigning champions, that is a huge psychological boost,'' said Oswald.
``However, we have never won a Cup match in France so now we have a new target to focus on, we have to keep the momentum going, of moving forward.
``I hope it is going to have a huge impact on Scottish rugby but winning two on the trot is not enough, we have to build on this.We have got a few tapes of Biarritz and we know they have recruited very well.Of course, Frano Botica is a key player for them and is in great shape at the moment. It will be a huge challenge for us out there."
``Our win at Northampton really got us noticed . I have never taken so many
congratulatory calls and apparently the live television audiences in the pubs
went wild when Duncan's final drop goal went over.It certainly helped us to win people over to the brand of rugby we are trying to promote and proved that, on our day, we can compete with the best.''
But the Reivers will be without Richard Metcalfe, who has been forced out of
the starting line-up with an ankle injury and is named as one of the eight
replacements.Metcalfe's fitness will be assessed in France but Andy Lucking has been drafted into the pack as replacement.
Matthew Proudfoot has also been included in the squad to provide additional bench cover if Metcalfe is unable to take any part in the game.
David Officer has not recovered from a neck injury and his place is taken by
Kenny Milligan.
Meanwhile James McLaren is finally set to make his Glasgow Caledonians debut
in the European Cup game against Pau on Sunday.McLaren, who signed for the Reds during the summer, has undergone surgery on an ankle injury since his arrival.But after playing two games for Stirling County he has proved his fitness and has been included in the team to face the French club.
The Reds have three players out of their side as they attempt to bounce back from the defeat by Leicester last weekend.Ian Jardine (ankle), Gordon Bulloch (concussion) and Roland Reid (eye) are all missing through injury.
Gavin Scott takes over as hooker from Bulloch, as he did during the Leicester
match, while Rowen Shepherd resumes the captaincy in Bulloch's absence.
Mark McKenzie and Glenn Metcalfe also return to the starting line-up in place
of Tommy Hayes and Shaun Longstaff respectively.