Scotland international Dave Callam has urged his Edinburgh team-mates to forget Frank Hadden is watching and to concentrate on making sure of victory in Friday night’s Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors.
The Edinburgh number eight lines up in the first all-Scottish clash of this season’s league, a rarity following the demise of Border Reivers.
And although Scotland head coach Hadden will be in the Murrayfield crowd, Callam insists the best way of giving him food for thought ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship will be to carry out Andy Robinson’s prescribed match tactics, rather than attempt any ambitious manoeuvres.
Edinburgh will leapfrog Glasgow and start the new year as Scotland’s leading side in the Magners League should they capitalise on home advantage and fend off Sean Lineen’s side.
Callam said: "We have been playing well and the main focus for us is the win.
"People will be looking to highlight the individual battles and a lot of the guys are competing for places at national level.
"But we have got to be careful that people stick to the game plan we have been set. It will be a big effort and everyone will have to front up, but we have to play a team game.
"It is a cliche and people do tend to slip into the personal battles. Some of the personal battles will be crucial like the line-out and the scrum, but if we can get some real continuity in our play then we will win against Glasgow.
"Points are hugely important as we look to finish as high as possible and, at this point in the season, a win can help you move up the league."
Hadden will no doubt be observing how 24-year-old Callam and his opposite number Johnnie Beattie perform.
Both men were included in Scotland’s Six Nations training squad earlier this month, along with 58-cap Simon Taylor, formerly of Edinburgh and now of Stade Francais.
With the 1872 Challenge Cup back on offer to the aggregate winners of the two matches Edinburgh and Glasgow play this season – the next meeting comes in mid-April – there is an added incentive ahead of tonight’s tussle.
Callam told www.edinburghrugby.org: "Everyone knows what a huge game it is and there is that rivalry that you maybe don’t get in other games.
"I think it is such a big game and everyone knows exactly what is at stake. We can’t afford to lose any home games, especially this one."
