CHRIS PATERSON today urged Edinburgh to carry their record breaking form into next season's Heineken European Cup when their opponents will be two former winners and the runners-up in 2005, when the final was first held at Murrayfield.
Edinburgh have been paired with Bath and Ulster as well as Stade Francais, who have lost out twice at the ultimate stage.
And, noting how Edinburgh finished with six league wins in a row as part of a run which included eight domestic home successe
s – also unprecedented – Paterson said: "We are really confident that we can carry on the progress that was made last season by challenging for a place in the knockout stages.
"Last season we managed to break a number of records and it will be an absolutely perfect achievement if we could go one further than we did in 2004 when we qualified for the knock-outs in Europe."
But the full back, who has made 53 European appearances, including six for Gloucester, insisted: "I'm really excited about this draw and looking forward to getting stuck in.
"I've never played Stade Francais before so I'm really looking forward to it.
"We played Bath in pre-season and they are a brilliant club who play an exciting brand of rugby which should make the game entertaining.
"It really is a tough draw whatever way you look at it (because) there are two previous winners and also a double finalist in our pool."
That was a reference to how Stade Francais lost in 2001 to Leicester and to Toulouse four years later.
One appealing feature is that all the away games (dates have still to be finalised as has the order of the ties) will be easily accessible for travelling fans, a point not lost on Edinburgh Chief Executive Nic Cartwright, who said: "Hopefully we will be able to take a large support wherever we go.
"After the way we played last season (to finish second in the Celtic League) we are bound to have a confident team and they really need to perform and take the next step up.
"Of course Stade Francais have the capability to switch our tie to the main Paris stadium as they have done before to attract a crowd of 80,000.
"But whatever happens we can be respectful of all these opponents without being fearful."
Last season Edinburgh posted home and away wins over Castres as a mark of progress and Cartwright noted how, after the opening half of the tournament when they conceded four tries to eventual winners Leinster, they pulled their socks up in dramatic fashion.
"It was disappointing to leak four tries in a 20-minute spell against Leinster but they did go on to win the tournament, while Cardiff, whom we beat home and away in the league, reached the European semi-final which bodes well for our continuing improvement.
"A home tie to start proceedings will surely help and, if we could get the all-important away win next up, that would be a huge boost."
While Edinburgh are entitled to feel optimistic a word of warning comes from the first player to captain the Capital outfit in Europe back in 1996 when their opponents were, coincidentally, Bath at the Recreation Ground.
Scott Hastings said: "It is a tough group but if Edinburgh aspire to be at the top table themselves then they have to beat the teams in their group.
"Edinburgh were placed in the fourth group of seeds but so too were Harlequins who managed to beat Stade Francais home and away last season so hopefully that is encouraging.
"What I'm certain of is that Edinburgh are no longer the whipping boys they once were in this competition. But they will still need to play to maximum potential and, if they do that, then qualification will be possible."
Edinburgh and Ulster are both looking for new coaches with Murrayfield chief Andy Robinson now in charge of Scotland and Matt Williams leaving Ravenhill to return to Australia.
Bath's Aussie coach Steve Meehan was previously assistant at Stade Francais for four years, helping them to two French titles.
EDINBURGH'S POOL 4 OPPONENTSBATH
LAST won the Premiership in 1996 and two years later won their first – and only – European crown. Have recently shown signs of rekindling past glories by finishing in the top four in the Premiership and reaching the Euro knockout phase after beating Toulouse. Third time Edinburgh have drawn them.
Star man: Lee Mears
STADE FRANCAIS
FOURTH in this season's French championship. They will have plenty of inside info about Edinburgh from recent signing Hugo Southwell. The full-back joins a star-studded staff including former Edinburgh and current Scotland colleague Simon Taylor. Runners-up in 2005 when the final was played at Murrayfield.
Star man: Freddie Michalak
ULSTER
WINNERS of the competition in 1999, the season they edged out Edinburgh 23-21 in a group decider at Myreside after the teams had drawn 38-38 in Belfast. Finished well behind Edinburgh in eighth in last season's Celtic League and will be under new management next term after Aussie Matt Williams returned home.
Star man: Stephen Ferris.
Heineken Cup drawPOOL 1Munster
Perpignan
Northampton
Treviso
POOL 2Biarritz
Gloucester
Dragons
Glasgow
POOL 3Leicester
Ospreys
Clermont Auvergne
Viadana
POOL 4Bath
Stade Francais
Ulster
Edinburgh
POOL 5 Toulouse
Cardiff
Sale
Harlequins
POOL 6Leinster
London Irish
Scarlets
Brive
FIXTURE SCHEDULEMatchday 1: Oct 9-11. Matchday 2: Oct 16-18. Matchday 3: Dec 11-13. Matchday 4: Dec 18-20. Matchday 5: Jan 15-17. Matchday 6: Jan 22-24.
• Fixtures will be allocated across these weekends (Fri-Sun) after discussions with TV companies.
