PRIZE guy Allan Jacobsen reckons the form book can be thrown out of the window ahead of Friday's crucial Heineken European Cup showdown between his Edinburgh club and former champions London Wasps at Murrayfield.
According to the 30-year-old prop forward, who collected a man-of-the-match prize as Edinburgh warmed up with a 32-16 win over Ospreys last Friday, the second Capital meeting between the teams at European level in four seasons will come down to sheer
desire.
Referring to how both teams have experienced a win and a defeat so far in Europe, Jacobsen said: "If Wasps lose they are out. If we lost we are out.
"It will be like a cup final for both of us and I don't think previous form will really count."
The same will also apply to recent domestic performances where Edinburgh lie fourth in the Celtic League with Wasps having just climbed out of the basement of England's premiership.
What Edinburgh will be particularly keen to take advantage of, says Jacobsen, is the lifeline achieved by a first-ever win in France in the blue riband Cup event. That was a 13-6 triumph in Castres to at least partially offset a 16-27 reverse by Leinster at Murrayfield on the opening day of this year's tournament.
"It was disappointing to lose the first match of this European campaign and I would have said in the past that would have been it so far as our qualification chances are concerned. But to win a Heineken Cup tie in France the week after was both exhilarating and a relief.
"There was relief from the fact that we are still in there battling while our backs in particular played some really good rugby at Castres.
"Now we have got a bit of a roll on with the Ospreys victory ensuring we go in against Wasps on the back of three straight wins," said the man nicknamed Chunk.
Adding to Edinburgh optimism is the fact that they have already defeated Wasps this year by 22-15, albeit in a pre-season friendly, and Jacobsen urges caution, saying: "Yes, it was good to win but the line-ups will be different on Friday. Having said that it did prove to a few of our boys who hadn't played against Wasps that they are beatable on what is a one-off occasion."
A total of 18 members of last Friday's squad figured in that August clash and Jacobsen believes they can also take heart from the 32-31 win in the Heineken Cup back in 2005.
"One of the things that was pleasing that day was that Wasps were reigning champions and we were given very little chance until Simon Webster went over in the closing minutes for the clinching try," says Jacobsen, one of nine Edinburgh survivors from that memorable encounter.
In looking to add to that scalp, though, Jacobsen knows Edinburgh have scope for improving current form and in particular the discipline.
While last Friday's victory was their biggest ever against Ospreys in league competition it surely augurs well for Edinburgh's future that it brought a mixed response from the players who clearly have sights set high.
"We were obviously happy to get the win but we played well only in the first half. In the second half we gave away a lot of penalties and rather than push on for the (four try) bonus point we let them back in. At the end of the day we were playing well and opportunities existed which we blew with our (ill) discipline after half-time."
The message from Jacobsen is that such profligacy could be fatal on a day when he is expected to lock horns again with England Test rival Phil Vickery while another cap, Tim Payne, is on the other side of the Wasps front row. All that adds to the challenge, says Jacobsen, who was speaking at the announcement of a scheme to transport youngsters to Murrayfield under the Kids Go 4 Free scheme also involving Hunter's Buses.
"For us to beat Wasps and really propel ourselves forward into a position where we do well in Europe and also get into the league title mix our set-piece has to be strong. We have to try to attack them in that area while ensuring our defence is spot on.
"Also our guys in the main positions, the decision-makers, have got to make the right calls. If you do these things in any game, no matter the opposition, you are in with a shout."
Meanwhile, Wasps will be running fitness checks this week on a string of key players. Wasps say that England flanker Joe Worsley will be receiving treatment for an ankle knock sustained in Friday's league win at Newcastle which also saw prop Pat Barnard suffer neck damage. Another doubt is Lions second row Simon Shaw who has been sidelined with leg damage since England's defeat by South Africa 10 days ago.
On the way upEDINBURGH are up two positions in the latest European rugby rankings to 16th, one behind Fridays' Murrayfield Heineken Cup opponents, London Wasps.
The full article contains 872 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
